People in developed countries of the Western world, particularly within Europe and North America, tend to eat a vastly different diet than most people living in Eastern countries. While Eastern diets normally include plenty of plant-based foods and limited amounts of meat, the so-called Western diet features meat, processed foods, refined items, snacks and sugary desserts, which can have a number of negative health consequences.
Meat
Big cuts of meat such as strip steak, pork chops and chicken breast are common on Western dinner tables, and processed deli meat and fried meat often show up on breakfast and lunch menus as well. Although meat is a trademark of the Western diet, eating too much of it can have notable health impacts. As the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences report, children in developed countries who follow a typical meat-heavy Western diet may be predisposed to obesity and allergies.
Processed Foods
Processed foods, a staple in Western grocery stores and popular among consumers for their low cost and convenience, come with preservatives and chemical additives.
Refined Grains
According to the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," breakfast cereal and other refined grain products make up more than 20 percent of total calories consumed in a typical Western diet. Among the most common refined grain products in the Western world include pasta noodles, cornstarch, white rice and baked goods made with refined white flour.
Snacks
Snacks make up one of the most varied categories of food in the Western diet -- they include chips, sandwich cookies, salty crackers, candy bars and a variety of other convenience foods. According to Salim Yusuf, D.Phil., senior author for a report published in "Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association," high-fat and high-calorie snacks such as those common in the Western diet likely contribute to an elevated percentage of heart attack risk.
Desserts
Many people who follow a Western diet eat sugar-laden desserts, whether packaged, prepared or made from scratch, on a near-daily basis. Baked goods such as cakes, cookies, pies and tarts are popular in restaurants and stores, as are packaged products such as ice cream, ice pops, hard candy and chocolate bars.
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