Eating too many or too few calories, or eating too few essential nutrients can create a host of physical and mental problems. A poor diet contributes to weight problems, poor muscle and bone growth, decreased coordination, mental problems such as anxiety, depression or memory loss and decreased motor function, which can lead to impaired physical functioning and sports performance. Knowing the effects of a poor diet on your bodily systems will help you spot signs that let you know you may have a nutrient deficiency.
Decreased Brain Function
In order to function and grow, your brain needs a variety of nutrients, such as amino acids and fatty acids, according to Eric H. Chudler, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of bioengineering at the University of Washington. You get these nutrients from eating protein and fats. As your brain synthesizes these nutrients, they create new brain connections and myelin, which improves the functioning of axons, which help your brain send information faster. When your brain doesn't get enough of certain nutrients, the neurotransmitters that send information from your body to your muscles don't work as well, leading to neurological and mental problems. Foods with nutrients that help neurotransmitters function better include eggs, liver, potatoes, beets, almonds, bananas, dairy products and soybeans. Poor nutrition can also decrease academic performance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Decreased Nervous System Function
Poor nutrition also leads to negative effects on your nervous system, according to Dr. Chudler. These problems include loss of motor skill function, lack of balance, memory problems, poor vision, paralysis, joint pain, itching, poor digestion, convulsions and seizures. Because your heart is a muscle, it is part of the central nervous system, and poor functioning of this area of your body can lead to cardiac problems.
Increased Risk of Disease and Conditions
Your body uses the vitamins and minerals you take in with food to help ward off diseases and conditions. For example, as you age, your body produces less calcium, leading to a loss of bone density. One way to decrease the effects of osteoporosis is to make sure you get enough calcium, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Dairy products are an excellent way to get calcium. Eating high-fat fish such as tuna, salmon and mackerel helps you get more omega-3 fatty acids that help combat poor blood cholesterol levels by improving your high-density lipoprotein--the so-called "good cholesterol"--levels. A diet high in saturated and trans fats and low in omega-3 fatty acids can lead to atherosclerosis, or blocking of the arteries, according to the CDC. Too many calories, especially those from saturated fat, leads to overweight and obesity, a serious, growing problem among American adults and children. Obesity can result in diseases and conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
References
- University of Washington Faculty Web Server: Nutrition and the Brain
- University of Washington Faculty Web Server: Nutrient Effects on the Nervous System
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Nutrition and the Health of Young People
- National Osteoporosis Foundation: What You Should Know About Calcium
- Mayo Clinic: Top 5 Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Cholesterol
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