We all like to indulge in some fries every once in a while, but as tempting as fast food may be when you’re in a hurry or low on cash, there’s a downside to that dollar menu. Eating fast food isn’t good for you and when you hear what it does to your body, that extra value meal might not be so appealing.
- Increased risk of depression - According to a 2012 study, people who eat more fast food and “consumer baked goods” are 51% more likely to be depressed. They’re also more likely to be single, less active and work over 45 hours a week.
- Increased risk of cancer - Research shows a link between fast food and various cancers and that has a lot to do with the fried foods they serve. High-temperature frying can change the food, producing chemicals that can damage DNA.
- Your memory suffers - A study from the University of California’s Brain Injury Research Center found that some lab rats who ate a fast food diet ended up with lower levels of a chemical that protects brains from memory loss and dementia.
- It messes with your skin - The grease, the chocolate milkshakes, and the salt don’t exactly bring out the glow in your complexion.
- You’re eating plastics - A recent study found that eating fast food increases your exposure to phthalates, a chemical that leaches into food from plastic gloves, containers, and conveyor belts. Not only is that gross, those chemicals can also mess with your hormones and lower sperm count.
- It gives you bad breath - People who eat fast food more than three times a week are 15% more likely to have stinky breath. Researchers think it could be from an increased risk of cavities and also acid reflux that comes from eating so much junk food.
Source: Hello Giggles
Photo: Getty Images