We all know that junk food is not good for your health, but we do not know the seriousness of its consumption by children, who are the main consumers of these foods and who we must take care of because they are in full development.
Little do we know that junk food can cause obesity and overweight, but there are far more health consequences for children.
We inform you what the risks may be.
affect memory
In the first years of life, crucial for children’s learning and development, the abusive use of junk food can lead to reduced attention, impaired memory and worsened mood, according to data from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
risk of depression
Children are 50% more likely to suffer from this disease when consuming this food in their daily diet.
Ultra-processed foods are rich in trans fats that alter the composition of the intestinal microbiota, a situation associated with mood changes, according to The European Journal of Neuroscience.
Weakness and fatigue
Children naturally have a lot of energy. However, junk food can make you collapse, causing weakness and fatigue that can become chronic.
digestive problems
Junk food can also cause serious digestive problems, due to the excess oil it is prepared with, which triggers the production of acid in the stomach.
This aggravates reflux, so the lack of fiber facilitates the onset of illness, constipation and hemorrhoids.
Cardiovascular diseases
Although they are associated with age, this food can be the cause of these illnesses in children, as it increases the levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.
The huge amounts of trans and saturated fats, in addition to the high sugar levels, cause the blood to damage the lining of the blood vessels.
kidney problems
Processed salts increase the secretion of enzymes, which affect the balance of sodium and potassium in the body, generating hypertension and poor filtration of toxins, due to damage to the kidneys.
Now that you know all this, you’re sure to think twice about offering a child a soda, candy, or any ultra-processed food. Healthy eating is not a fad, it should be the “normality” of our children’s daily lives to avoid present and future problems in their physical and mental health.