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Poor Diet and Health

Jan 25, 2011 | By Jeffrey Traister
Poor Diet and Health
Photo Credit Hot Dog image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com

A poor diet can cause poor health. A poor diet in developing countries involves insufficient amounts of calories, protein and other nutrients. In developed countries, such as the United States, poor diet primarily involves overconsumption of unhealthy foods and substances that can increase your risk of chronic diseases. Consult your doctor or dietitian about developing a healthy diet that can help you prevent chronic diseases that plague the lives of millions of people.

Obesity

Americans consume more calories from fast and processed food and sweetened beverages in each meal and throughout the day than they did 30 years ago, according to research by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 2003 and "American Journal of Preventive Medicine" in 2004. As a result, 68 percent of adults and 48 percent of children and adolescents are overweight or obese, according to research by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, and published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 2010. Increased weight elevates your risk for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, cancer, cardiovascular disease and arthritis.

Sugar

Consuming foods high in sugar increases your caloric intake and weight, which might increase your risk of high blood sugar and noninsulin-dependent diabetes, also called type 2 diabetes or insulin resistant diabetes. Insulin resistance is characterized by muscle cells no longer attaching to the hormone that transports sugar from your blood into your cells for energy. The increase of Type 2 diabetes is at an epidemic level, and scientists project the prevalence of the metabolic disorder will triple by 2050. Foods that contain high amounts of sugar include sodas, candy and other desserts.

Fat

A poor diet includes foods with unhealthy fats, primarily saturated fat from meat and dairy, and trans fats from fast and processed foods. These foods include hot dogs, bacon, bologna, ham, whole milk, cheese, fried foods, margarine and baked desserts. Saturated fat and trans fat increase the development of plaque that can clog your arteries and cause coronary heart disease, heart attack and death.

Sodium

Food manufacturers, restaurants and consumers use salt to season foods, such as meats, cheeses, vegetables, breads, sauces and dressings. A poor diet contains a high amount of sodium, much greater than the daily recommended allowances. Increased sodium intake increases your risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

References

Article reviewed by OmahaTyppo Last updated on: Jan 25, 2011

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