It amazes me that people still eat fast food.
Sure, I understand it’s quick, easy, and convenient…
But what about all of the associated health risks?
Let’s talk more about what actually happens inside your body when you unwrap and devour that guilty pleasure…
What you eat matters
In a new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, researchers analyzed the dietary habits of nearly 4,000 young adults.
Ultimately, they found that getting 20 percent or more of your total daily calories from fast food SKYROCKETS the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
And the association was strongest among obese or diabetic subjects.
Now, while 20 percent may not sound like a lot, it’s estimated that up to 50 percent of our daily calories come from processed foods and beverages. (Read more about that here.)
Does that mean liver disease could be one of the biggest killers of Americans in a few years’ time?
Probably!
After all, NAFLD is one of the fastest growing diseases in the nation—and it can be deadly, especially when left undiagnosed.
A supersized meal with a side of fatty liver
We, as a nation, are literally dying for easier access to healthy foods. And the powers-that-be have got to get their acts together by focusing on what’s really wrong with the way Americans eat…
Big Agribusiness and Big Food!
But let’s also not forget that YOU have total control of what you put in your mouth.
And eliminating fast food from your diet will slow down the amount of fat that gets deposited in your liver. (This is what contributes to NAFLD.)
Because let me be clear: eating fat does not lead to this disease. Eating too many carbohydrates and sugar does.
(This is something the lead investigator got wrong. She suggested dietary counseling that includes avoiding fat, processed sugars, and carbs. I guess two-out-of-three isn’t terrible…)
I have always asserted that there’s nothing wrong with dietary fat. In fact, there are many types of fats that are quite healthy for you. (Have we learned nothing from the low-fat era?)
But fast food? Well, those meals contain a deadly combo of (unhealthy) saturated fat, carbs, sugar, and toxic oils—even the paper it’s wrapped in could be carcinogenic!
So, for the millionth time, skip the “easy and convenient” drive-through lines and reach for REAL FOOD instead.
If you need some inspiration, tune into my Cooking with Dr. Fred show on YouTube or Instagram.
P.S. In the December 2020 issue of my monthly newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives, I disclose four simple ways to fight fatty liver disease and slash your risk of early death. Not yet a subscriber? Click here to learn about becoming one.
Source:
“Fast food consumption may increase the risk of liver disease.” Medical News Today, 01/18/2023. (medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fast-food-consumption-may-increase-the-risk-of-liver-disease)