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Fast food clusters linked to higher heart attack cases, study finds
By brockywilson // 2021-05-13
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A study found that heart attack cases increase with the number of fast-food restaurants that open in a neighborhood. In particular, it found four additional heart attacks per 100,000 people every year for every additional fast food restaurant in the state of New South Wales in Australia. Study author Tarunpreet Saluja of the University of Newcastle said that this association was consistent across rural and metropolitan areas in the state. It was also consistent after adjusting for risk factors for heart attack, including obesity, high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes, he added. Previous studies have shown that eating fast foods could contribute to the development of heart disease, but the role of fast food availability had been less clear. To that end, Saluja and his colleagues assessed the diets of 3,070 heart attack patients in New South Wales to look for a potential link between fast food availability and heart attack incidence. "It is known that eating fast foods is linked with a higher likelihood of fatal and nonfatal heart attacks," Saluja said. "Despite this, there is rapid growth in the purchase and availability of fast food. This highlights the need to explore the role of food availability in the probability of having a heart attack."

Health problems linked to fast food

Fast food is very popular because it is inexpensive, convenient and full of flavor. But regularly eating fast food can lead to a raft of health problems. This junk food is very high in salt, processed carbohydrates and unhealthy fats, all of which impact your health negatively. Besides heart attack, here are a few other health issues associated with fast food:
  • Obesity – Studies suggest that frequently eating fast food can contribute to weight gain. This is because fast food contains a large dose of calories from refined carbs as well as trans and saturated fats.
  • Cancer – Studies show that grilled chicken from fast food joints contains a chemical linked to the development of breast, prostate and colon cancers. The additives sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite in fast food meats can also break down into nitrosamines, which have the potential to cause cancer.
  • Kidney disease – Consuming too much sodium can increase your risk of developing kidney stones and kidney disease. Unfortunately, a single fast food meal can contain more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium, which is the daily sodium limit for adults.
  • Diabetes – Fast food such as burgers and French fries are made with refined flour, which can increase your blood sugar. In turn, frequently eating these foods can increase your risk of diabetes.
  • Inflammation – Phthalates are toxic chemicals commonly used as a lining for plastic food and beverage packaging. These chemicals interfere with the function of your hormones and are associated with increased inflammation. A study found that people who often ate fast food had 35 percent higher levels phthalate metabolites than those who mostly ate meals prepared at home.
  • Cognitive decline – The high amount of saturated fats in fast food can negatively impact your brain function and memory, accelerating cognitive decline.
  • Depression – A study found that people who ate fast food were 51 percent more likely to develop depression than those who didn't.
  • High cholesterol – Regularly eating fast food can cause high cholesterol since this junk food is packed with trans and saturated fats. In addition, fast food can reduce your "good" cholesterol," which otherwise protects your heart from heart attack and stroke.
  • Osteoporosis – High sodium intake can cause your bones to weaken, which can lead to osteoporosis.
  • Tooth decay – Fast food desserts rot your teeth as they are loaded with sugars. Frequently drinking soda also increases the amount of acid in your mouth, which eats away at the tooth enamel. This, in turn, can eventually cause tooth decay and cavities.
  • Acne – Foods like French fries are chock-full of acne-causing simple sugars and white flour.
  • Constipation – Most fast foods are poor in fiber, a nutrient that helps keep you regular.
  • Lethargy and bloating – Fast food contains a large dose of calories from unhealthy fats and carbohydrates. Consuming such a hefty amount of calories can leave you feeling full and lethargic.  Also, too much sodium causes your body to retain water, making you feel bloated and puffy.
Fast food contains several toxic ingredients that cause a host of health problems, including heart attack, obesity and cancer. Substitute fast food for whole and nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables to prevent the diseases linked to fast food. Sources: ScienceDaily.com EatThis.com
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