Are you an Indian living in Canada as a student? Do you not know about cooking healthy food? Have you been relying on unhealthy foods for survival? If so, it is something that you need to change as soon as possible, as regular consumption of unhealthy food can lead to various health problems.

Burgers, fries, fried chicken, deli meats, soft drinks, and energy drinks are considered unhealthy food items. Daily consumption of such foods can cause obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and strokes, constipation, and mood swings. However, not many people are aware of the potential health problems caused by junk food.

Due to a lack of awareness, people keep eating unhealthy food items, do not exercise, and regret later in life. If you are also a serial junk food eater, read this blog to learn the hidden dangers of junk food to convince yourself not to eat that shit.

What’s Considered Unhealthy Food?

Before we jump into the hidden dangers of unhealthy food and its effects on your health, let’s first determine what is considered unhealthy food. Here are the items that qualify as unhealthy food:

Processed and Fast Food

• Packaged snacks (chips, instant noodles, frozen meals)
• Fast food (burgers, fries, fried chicken)
• Deli meats (hot dogs, sausages, processed ham)

Sugary Food and Drinks

• Soft drinks and energy drinks
• Packaged fruit juices with added sugar
• Candy, chocolate bars, and sweet pastries

Fried and High-Fat Foods

• Deep-fried snacks (French fries, onion rings)
• Margarine and hydrogenated oils (contain trans fats)
• High-fat dairy products (full-fat cheese, cream-based sauces)

Foods with Artificial Additives and Preservatives

• Instant soups and ready-to-eat meals
• Flavored chips and processed cheese
• Sweets with artificial colours and flavours

The above foods may be tasty and easily found (that’s why most people eat them), but they are not great for your health. You should not trade your health and fitness for that little convenience and taste.

How Unhealthy Food Affects Your Health?

Now that you know what comes under unhealthy food, it’s time to learn how it affects your health. Here are the health issues that can arise due to the regular consumption of unhealthy food items:

Obesity and Weight Gain

Junk food is high in calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats. It can cause you to gain excessive weight. If you become obese, you might become prone to many other diseases.

Heart Diseases

Unhealthy foods often have saturated fats in excess, which causes high cholesterol and clogs your arteries. If not addressed timely, it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. In addition, unhealthy food items often have higher amounts of sodium, which causes hypertension (high blood pressure).

Type 2 Diabetes

Sugary foods and drinks cause insulin resistance, which leads to diabetes. Over time, diabetes can damage your body’s crucial organs, like kidneys and eyes.

Digestive Problems

A low-fiber diet (involving unhealthy food only) can cause constipation and bloating. Additionally, it disrupts gut bacteria, which leads to poor digestion.

Weakened Immune System

Junk food lacks essential vitamins and minerals, weakening your immune system and making you fall sick again and again. Also, high sugar intake, which junk food often has, suppresses immune functions. So, stop eating junk food today!

The Hidden Dangers of Unhealthy Food

You must have heard about the negative effects of eating unhealthy food on your health. However, not everyone talks about the hidden dangers of unhealthy food. Here are the hidden dangers of unhealthy food you must know about:

Addiction to Junk Food

Junk food items are often high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, which trigger cravings. Eating such food regularly can make you dependent on it. The more you eat it, the more cravings you have. Overall, you get trapped in a never-ending cycle.

Misleading Food Labels

Even when you decide to cut down on unhealthy food, misleading food labels don’t let you. Imagine you are in a grocery store and see an unhealthy item labeled as “low-fat, “sugar-free.” You think you have found something to snack on without guilt. But the truth is it contains harmful additives and high-calorie ingredients. So, avoiding them is the best bet.

Long-Term Health Damage

As mentioned above, regular consumption of unhealthy food increases the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. If you are not seeing any effects currently, it doesn’t mean you won’t in the future. Your body may develop medical conditions over time due to unhealthy foods, which makes them even more dangerous.

How to Avoid Unhealthy Food?

Avoiding unhealthy food can be challenging if you have been consuming them for a long time. But it is not impossible. Here are some ways to ditch unhealthy food:

• Read the food labels of every product before adding them to your cart.
• Choose fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean protein over processed foods.
• Drink plain water and coconut water instead of sugary drinks like soda.
• Cook meals on your own if you know cooking. Homemade food is the best!
• Opt for homemade food delivery to get healthy foods at your doorstep.

On the Final Note

Due to a lack of cooking skills and poor time management, many students and professionals in Canada eat unhealthy food items. They don’t realize it, but they are ruining their body for mere convenience and taste. Junk food is high in sugar, salt, and calories, which makes them obese and prone to chronic health ailments.

The best way to prevent health problems is to ditch junk food and eat only healthy, homemade food. However, not everyone is a good cook or has enough time to cook. If you also have no time for cooking or don’t know how to cook, opt for an Indian tiffin service in Richmond.

Also Read: No Time? Get Healthy Meals with Tiffin Services!