How often do you eat junk food, or have a cheat meal/cheat day? Do you feel worse, sluggish, nauseous or lazy when you overconsume unhealthy foods?

[iloverachel]

Back when I was borderline obese (over 220 lbs at 5'9) my diet was garbage, fried foods, desserts, candy, soda on a daily basis. I was depressed, lazy and had messed up sleep patterns. Over the roucse of nearly a year I managed to effectively cut out all junk alcohol drugs etc (only 1 cheat meal a week) and my anxiety and depression is virtually non existent. Combined with exercise and good sleep of course and supplements like fish oil and magnesium

Junk food can have a significant negative impact on your brain, mental well-being, and energy levels. Here's a breakdown of the key issues:



Impact on the Brain:

• Reduced Neuroplasticity:
  • Junk food diets can impair neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to form new connections and adapt. This can hinder learning and memory.
• Inflammation:
  • High levels of sugar and unhealthy fats in junk food can trigger inflammation in the brain, known as neuroinflammation. This can damage brain cells.
• Impaired Memory and Learning:
  • Studies have shown that regular consumption of junk food can negatively affect memory and cognitive function, particularly in the hippocampus, the brain's memory center.
• Reward System Disruption:
  • Junk food can overstimulate the brain's reward system, leading to cravings and addictive-like behaviors. This can make it difficult to control your eating habits.
• Negative effects on Neurogenesis:
  • Junk food can reduce the generation of new neurons, which is important for brain health and mental well being.
• Cognitive decline:
  • Ultra processed foods have been linked to an increase in cognitive decline, and increased risk of dementia.

Impact on Mental Well-being:

• Mood Swings:
  • Fluctuations in blood sugar levels caused by junk food can lead to mood swings, irritability, and anxiety.
• Increased Risk of Depression:
  • Poor nutrition can contribute to an increased risk of depression. Studies have linked diets high in processed foods to higher rates of depression.
• Gut-Brain Connection:
  • Junk food can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, which can affect the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, which plays a crucial role in mood regulation.
• Increased anxiety:
  • The negative effects that junk food has on the gut, can also lead to increased anxiety.

Impact on Laziness and Tiredness:

• Energy Crashes:
  • Junk food provides a quick burst of energy followed by a rapid crash, leading to fatigue and lethargy.
• Nutrient Deficiencies:
  • Junk food is often low in essential nutrients that the body needs for energy production. This can result in chronic fatigue.
• Disrupted Sleep:
  • Consuming junk food, especially close to bedtime, can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to daytime tiredness.
• Inflammation:
  • The inflammatory effects that junk food has on the body can also lead to feelings of tiredness, and fatigue.

In essence, a diet high in junk food can create a cycle of negative effects, impacting both your physical and mental health.

 

[shockedcanadian]

Back when I was borderline obese (over 220 lbs at 5'9) my diet was garbage, fried foods, desserts, candy, soda on a daily basis. I was depressed, lazy and had messed up sleep patterns. Over the roucse of nearly a year I managed to effectively cut out all junk alcohol drugs etc (only 1 cheat meal a week) and my anxiety and depression is virtually non existent. Combined with exercise and good sleep of course and supplements like fish oil and magnesium

Junk food can have a significant negative impact on your brain, mental well-being, and energy levels. Here's a breakdown of the key issues:



Impact on the Brain:

• Reduced Neuroplasticity:
  • Junk food diets can impair neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to form new connections and adapt. This can hinder learning and memory.
• Inflammation:
  • High levels of sugar and unhealthy fats in junk food can trigger inflammation in the brain, known as neuroinflammation. This can damage brain cells.
• Impaired Memory and Learning:
  • Studies have shown that regular consumption of junk food can negatively affect memory and cognitive function, particularly in the hippocampus, the brain's memory center.
• Reward System Disruption:
  • Junk food can overstimulate the brain's reward system, leading to cravings and addictive-like behaviors. This can make it difficult to control your eating habits.
• Negative effects on Neurogenesis:
  • Junk food can reduce the generation of new neurons, which is important for brain health and mental well being.
• Cognitive decline:
  • Ultra processed foods have been linked to an increase in cognitive decline, and increased risk of dementia.

Impact on Mental Well-being:

• Mood Swings:
  • Fluctuations in blood sugar levels caused by junk food can lead to mood swings, irritability, and anxiety.
• Increased Risk of Depression:
  • Poor nutrition can contribute to an increased risk of depression. Studies have linked diets high in processed foods to higher rates of depression.
• Gut-Brain Connection:
  • Junk food can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, which can affect the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, which plays a crucial role in mood regulation.
• Increased anxiety:
  • The negative effects that junk food has on the gut, can also lead to increased anxiety.

Impact on Laziness and Tiredness:

• Energy Crashes:
  • Junk food provides a quick burst of energy followed by a rapid crash, leading to fatigue and lethargy.
• Nutrient Deficiencies:
  • Junk food is often low in essential nutrients that the body needs for energy production. This can result in chronic fatigue.
• Disrupted Sleep:
  • Consuming junk food, especially close to bedtime, can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to daytime tiredness.
• Inflammation:
  • The inflammatory effects that junk food has on the body can also lead to feelings of tiredness, and fatigue.

In essence, a diet high in junk food can create a cycle of negative effects, impacting both your physical and mental health.

Define junk food. I have some granola bars and I dont eat sugar at all. My problem may be high sodium which is difficult to avoid when I need a quick snack but I try through fresh veggies and fruits which I always purchase.

 

[Mack The Finger]

In essence, a diet high in junk food can create a cycle of negative effects, impacting both your physical and mental health.

.
I am what I am and eat what I want. I am 69 years old and could stand to loose 20 LBs. If you think I am going to change and stop eating chocolate and going to burger world....you're the one who is out of thier mind. My life it is and if I am lucky I hope to die this way.

Lets face it....no veggies in the world taste as good and a Milky Way, ice cream or Dr Pepper !

 

[iloverachel]

Define junk food. I have some granola bars and I dont eat sugar at all. My problem may be high sodium which is difficult to avoid when I need a quick snack but I try through fresh veggies and fruits which I always purchase.

Foods that are low in nutritional value, e.g. fried oily foods, sweets, burgers, pizzas, fries, deep fried chicken. Some foods are on the fence imo, like noodles and steak can sometimes be considered as junk due to msg they add from restaurants

.
I am what I am and eat what I want. I am 69 years old and could stand to loose 20 LBs. If you think I am going to change and stop eating chocolate and going to burger world....you're the one who is out of thier mind. My life it is and if I am lucky I hope to die this way.

Lets face it....no veggies in the world taste as good and a Milky Way, ice cream or Dr Pepper !

Yeah with age, metabolism slows down a lot and you might as well enjoy the simple pleasures of life while you still can. If you are happy and feel good with your weight thats all that matters.

My post is more directed to those who feel depressed or have mental health problems which is possibly due to their diet, I want them to know eating clean does wonders in reducing those symptoms. My anxiety used to be so bad I had to forced myself to go to the gym at 5am when its empty because i was so self conscious and lacking in confidence and depressed, one time i even walked back home. I was extremely overweight and ate poorly those times

 

[iamwhatiseem]

I don't eat fast food at all, haven't for close to 10 years.
I eat Fritos every once in awhile.
I have not drank soda for almost 20 years.
I make my own bread, and for snack in the evenings usually eat cereal.
Occasionally I make an apple pie, or carrot cake or cookies, I would say 5-6 times a year.

Which is why I am not at all fat, I look about 10 years younger than I am. My cholesterol at 60 years old is where most 30 year olds are, and I virtually never get sick.

 

[Quasar44]

.
I am what I am and eat what I want. I am 69 years old and could stand to loose 20 LBs. If you think I am going to change and stop eating chocolate and going to burger world....you're the one who is out of thier mind. My life it is and if I am lucky I hope to die this way.

Lets face it....no veggies in the world taste as good and a Milky Way, ice cream or Dr Pepper !

Twix is good candy bar

I do love cookies


Milky Way are terrific

 

[Woodznutz]

Milky Way are terrific

My favorite was "Forever Yours" bar, but I don't think they're made any more.

 

[Woodznutz]

Junk food is fine, until there's a pandemic where we need our immune systems to protect us.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Something you see so often at a grocery store... a family, all fat, and look into their cart and what do you see? The top walls of the cart are lined with soda bottles, in the cart is potato chips, sugary cereals, hot dogs, frozen pizza, Little Debbie cakes, Ice Cream and on and on.
Hellooooo???