We have all heard doctors say that fried food consumption is bad for us, however, we rarely explore the effect unhealthy food has on us.
Dietary fat is an essential part of a healthy diet. There are many different functions that fats have in the human body.
It provides fuel for the body, helps run the heart, aids smooth working of the joints, protects vital organs as well as helps the body absorb vitamins, make hormones, and feel full, which can help to prevent overeating. Fat is found in many foods such as meat, dairy, nuts, and oils.
The fact is that fried foods are high in fat, calories, and often salt, which is a no-brainer and is undeniable.
Fried foods are crunchy, crispy, and tasty, tempting, and often addictive, and when it is prepared, it’s by a huge quantity of melted fat or oil.
There is also the notable fact that several studies have linked fried foods to serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Here are five reasons why eating fried food is bad for you?
- Obesity: Regardless of the cooking methods used, consuming foods with high-fat content means a high-calorie intake. This can lead to weight gain and obesity, which is a trigger for several diseases and health conditions.
- Harbors disease: When food is fried it becomes more calorific because the food absorbs the fat of the oils. Eating lots of fat-laden food can raise blood pressure and cause high cholesterol. Both of these are risk factors for heart disease.
- Trans fats bad for the heart: Trans fats, or trans-fatty acids, are a form of unsaturated fat. Trans fats occur in the meat and dairy from ruminant animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. They form naturally when bacteria in these animals’ stomachs digest grass. A Harvard study discovered that eating trans fats increases levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad” cholesterol), especially the small, dense LDL particles that may be more damaging to arteries.
- Atherosclerosis threat: Atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries, occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries. These deposits are called plaques. Over time, these plaques can narrow or completely block the arteries and cause problems for the body.
- The threat of cancer: Another worry with fried food, centers around acrylamide, a chemical that forms in foods cooked at high temperatures, such as fried and baked foods. When food is cooked at very high heat, an amino acid called the asparagine, found in the food, reacts with sugars to produce acrylamide. Several studies have shown that Acrylamide has been shown in animal studies to cause cancer. Those with a family history of cancer should be extra careful about fried food consumption.
