Eating Junk Food On Regular Basis May Lead To Early Ageing

Consuming a diet comprising soda, sweetened beverages, pizza, salty food, biscuits and decedent foods on regular basis may lead to several health-related problems such as obesity, heart diseases, diabetes etc. Researchers have warned that children who regularly take fructose present in soda, sweetened beverages, pizza and salty food, biscuits and yogurt may be prone to liver disease. A new study has further found a link between these junk foods and early ageing in humans. The findings were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The research, conducted by a team of experts at University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, stated that excess consumption of sugar and fat-laden ultra-processed foods (more than 2 to 3 servings a day), doubles the chance of shortening of telomeres. For the unversed, telomeres are a section of chromosome used as a marker for detecting one's biological age. This research was presented at European and International Conference on Obesity 2020, on the first week of September.

The study was conducted on 886 individuals (645 men and 241 women), aged between 57 and 91 years. They were segregated in four equal groups and were provided four different servings of ultra-processed food on a daily basis: less than 2 servings/day, 2 to 2.5 servings/day, more than 2.5 to 3 servings/day, and more than 3 servings/day.

It was found that increase of junk consumption was linked to higher risk of having shortened telomeres. Study says, 'Those participants with the highest UPF consumption had almost twice the odds of having short telomeres compared with those with the lowest consumption.'

Effects of Fast Food on the Body

Most fast food, including drinks and sides, are loaded with carbohydrates with little to no fiber.When your digestive system breaks down these foods, the carbs are released as glucose (sugar) into your bloodstream. As a result, your blood sugar increases. Your pancreas responds to the surge in glucose by releasing insulin. Insulin transports sugar throughout your body to cells that need it for energy. As your body uses or stores the sugar, your blood sugar returns to normal.

This blood sugar process is highly regulated by your body, and as long as you’re healthy, your organs can properly handle these sugar spikes. But frequently eating high amounts of carbs can lead to repeated spikes in your blood sugar. Over time, these insulin spikes may cause your body’s normal insulin response to falter. This increases your risk for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain.