Did you know that just one fast-food meal can start a cascade of inflammation in your body (as if you had an infection), increase your blood pressure, constrict your blood vessels, produce free-radicals that damage your arteries and increase insulin production which worsens pre- or active diabetic states? A research article from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has found just that scenario with eating only one fast food high fat, high sugar meal. Actually if you have a meal that spikes your blood sugar for a few hours the cardiovascular effects can last up to 6 (that's SIX) days! Just for a few hours of high blood sugar! The high blood sugar also reduces your immune system's ability to fight off infection easily thus putting you more at risk for chronic or repeated infections.
The good news is that in the same study, one high fiber, high protein meal with fruits and vegetables seems to counteract the bad done by the fast food meal. A little bit of alcohol seems to enhance this positive result. It's true that we all like a great burger, fries and a milkshake every once in awhile. If you are eating such a meal try to be conscientious to ensure that the other meals that day are healthier with less sugar, more vegetables and lower carbohydrates. It does take practice and discipline to choose healthier options if you have a busy life or if you eat out a lot. Learn some good food choices for you. Healthier snack options and some planning will go a long way to help you stay healthy. Many young people or thin people don't realize that they too are at risk for the heart disease that obese people are at risk for. Thin people also get diabetes and heart disease. By making choices daily that support good eating habits your personal chances of developing diabetes in the future really reduces.
Foods such as beans, lentils, lean proteins, whole grains, dark leafy greens, multi-colored whole fruits, nuts and seeds and a glass or red wine and a cup of green tea can help your heart stay vital and your blood sugar stay even. Organic fruits and vegetables have higher nutrient content than their conventionally grown counterparts. Keep adding to your variety of greens and fruits that you eat regularly to help you get the variety of nutrients that we all need. The less processing the food goes through, the better for your health.
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Posted by: Scott | February 08, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Fast food = cascading inflammation? Oh my, that visual shocks me into cleaner food habits like watching Super Size Me did. Yikes!
Posted by: Stephanie Quilao | February 08, 2008 at 05:34 PM