What you eat and drink each day effects your health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Good nutrition, along with regular exercise will help you maintain a healthy weight which you can also achieve by using weight loss supplements, while reducing your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease. However, consuming regular amounts of fast and junk food will impact your quality of health, and will have negative effects on your body. From your dentist finding cavities more often during your regular checkups and seeing the need for dental implants because of missing teeth, to issues with major internal organs like your heart or digestive system. Check immediately with your dentist, let’s look at some of the negative effects of eating junk food.

The Negative Side Of Junk And Fast Food

Junk foods are food and drinks with low nutritional value (e.g. vitamins, minerals and fibre) and high in kilojoules, fat, sugars and/or salt. On the other hand, fast foods are a type of food you get from a restaurant designed to be delivered to you in the quickest way possible. Some fast foods can be healthy, but typically most fast foods are junk food. For example, salad, sushi and sandwiches are healthy forms of fast food. However, most fast food restaurants, such as McDonalds or KFC serve unhealthy junk food.  In Australia, 35% of an average adult’s daily energy intake and 41% of children’s daily energy intake comes from junk food.

While the occasional night of junk food won’t hurt much, eating Junk foods regular has been shown to lead to increased risks of obesity and chronic diseases. Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and some cancers all have causes in excessive junk food consumption. Further, the specific content of many fast foods can have negative side effects for your body;

• Junk food high in sodium can lead to increased headaches and migraine
• Junk food high in carbs can trigger outbreaks of acne
• Eating excessive amounts of junk food may increase your risk of depression
• The carbs and sugar in junk foods can lead to dental cavities that may need to be treated by your family dentist 
• Fried foods are filled with trans fats which raise LDL cholesterol levels
• Fast food is filled with empty carbohydrates, which can lead to increased blood sugar and insulin resistance
• Increased sodium levels can lead to your body retaining excessive water, leading to bloating

The Key To A Healthy Diet | The Bad Effects Of Eating Junk Food

To avoid the negative health risks to your, your diet needs to be nutritional and diverse. Small changes to your diet can make an immense difference to your health. It’s easier than you think, especially if you follow at least six of the eight goals outlined below. 

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables: The more colourful you plate, the more likely you are to get the vitamins, minerals and fibre your body needs, so be sure to choose a variety of red, orange and green vegetables (such as tomatoes, sweet potatoes and broccoli).

• Make half the grains you eat whole grains: eating whole grain foods such as whole-wheat bread will help you avoid processed grains high in empty carbohydrates. Look for whole wheat, brown rice, bulgur, buckwheat, oatmeal, rolled oats, quinoa or wild rice.

• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk: Fat free and low fat milk contains the same amount of calcium and other nutrients as whole milk, but contains fewer calories and less saturated fat.

• Choose a variety of lean protein foods: Lean meats (meat with lower fat content) are far better than meat with large amounts of fat content. Select leaner cuts of beef, turkey breast of chicken breast. 

• Compare sodium in foods: Use the nutritional facts included in the labels on food packaging to select foods containing low levels of sodium. Choose canned foods with labels stating low sodium, reduced sodium or no salt added. 

• Drink water instead of sugary drinks: By drinking water or unsweetened, you can cut your calories substantially. Sodas and energy drinks are high in added sugar and calories, so be sure to avoid these. If you seek added flavor, try adding a slice of lemon, lime or watermelon to your glass of water. Try different protein powders and stick with your favorite ones.

• Eat some seafood: Seafood such as fish and shellfish are high in protein, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids (healthy fat). Try eating at least eight ounces of seafood a week if you are an adult. 
• Cut back on solid fats: Major sources of solid fats are cakes, cookies, ice cream and processed meat. Try to avoid these to cut back on your solid fat intake. 

By following the above eight goals, you will help your body get the nutrients it needs, while cutting back on unhealthy content. If you combine a healthy diet with regular physical exercise, your physical and mental health with begin to improve immensely.

Concerned about the amount of junk food you’re consuming or just want to find out more? Book an appointment with us at Southgate Medical Centre as we specialise in both Men’s Health and Women’s Health.

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The Bad Effects Of Eating Junk Food

Spring has arrived, and unfortunately for many of us, so has Hay Fever!

Hay Fever is the common term used to describe the symptoms of sneezing, nasal congestion, red itchy watery eyes and headache related to exposure to the grass & tree pollens that are in the air in Spring. In some cases, like with parents first encountering this condition in their child, they might not be able to determine the child’s ailment and take him to a doctor specializing in pediatric otolaryngology. This is due to the fact that the symptoms are respiratory for the most part. The good news is that an ENT will be more than capable of recognizing the signs and prescribe the proper treatment and symptom management accordingly.

Hay Fever Management

So what can you do to best manage these symptoms?

• Check the daily pollen forecast.  A very useful app is available providing pollen counts and also forecasts of thunderstorm asthma. You can download the Melbourne Pollen Count mobile app here. On high pollen count days you may need to say indoors 
• Take anti-histamine tablets as needed – these are available over the counter from your pharmacy
• Consider daily use of a corticosteroid nasal spray – this needs to be taken continuously throughout the Hay Fever season to prevent symptoms
• Anti-histamine eye drops can be helpful for itchy red eyes
• If symptoms are severe and recurring each year, talk to your doctor about allergy testing and desensitization immunotherapy

Asthma & Hayfever

Remember that people with Hay Fever may also be at risk of getting Thunderstorm Asthma. This can happen when a high or extreme pollen count day combines with a particular type of thunderstorm, turbocharging the spread of pollens. Consult your doctor about whether you may also benefit from having an asthma reliever inhaler such as Ventolin or Symbicort on standby.

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Hay Fever Management

There is more to anxiety than just the feeling of stress or worry. It is perfectly normal to feel anxious during stressful situations. When we feel pressured, feelings of stress and anxiety are common responses that usually disappear when the stressful situation passes. However, if your feelings of stress occur regularly or don’t go away, this might mean that you are experiencing an anxiety condition. Nowadays, cannabis has been the best remedy to alleviate stress and anxiety. And if you’re planning to grow your own cannabis, then you may want to read this post about cannabis strains for more info!

In Australia, anxiety is the most common mental health condition, with around one in four Australians (one in three women and one in five men) experiencing it during their lifetime. Every year, over two million Australians experience anxiety. 

The sooner people get support, the more likely they are to recover and there are many ways to help manage it. 

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms are complex and evolve over time, and since we all experience anxious feelings during periods of stress, it can be hard to know if our feelings are normal or not. When it’s not too severe yet, you can still opt for products like CBD Oil UK to save you.

Normal feelings that people experience are limited in time and tend to be connected to a stressful situation or event, such as a group presentation or a job interview. In contrast, anxious feelings experienced are more regular, not always connected to stressful situations, and can impact on day-to-day quality of life. While each person can experience different types, there are some common symptoms including:

• Panic attacks
• Hot and cold flushes
• Accelerated heart rate
• Quick breathing
• Excessive fear/worry
• Avoidance of certain situations

There are more symptoms that you may experience, and you will need to see a doctor to properly be diagnosed with anxiety condition. However, these can be used as a guide for yourself and others. 

Treatments for anxiety

Effective treatment for anxiety involves helping you learn how to control your anxiety so it doesn’t control you. What treatment is recommended for you will depend on what type of anxiety you experience, as well as other factors such as age. Anxiety is not exclusive to adults or teens, as it is seen and treated in pediatric therapy as well.

As per Primo Vibes, if your symptoms are mild, your doctor might suggest changes to you daily routine, such as regular physical exercise. In this time of isolation, you might also like to try online or telehealth therapies, many of which are free, anonymous and easily accessible for anyone with internet access.

For instance, if you are a university student, your university should offer free and anonymous Counseling a phone call away. 

If you experience moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety, psychology and/or medical treatments are likely to be required. Psychiatric services may include cognitive behavior therapy, which will be designed by a mental health care professional for your needs. You may also be prescribed a form of antidepressant medication or antianxiety medication (also known as Benzodiazephines). 

Management strategies

If you experience an anxiety condition, there are a range of strategies you can try to help manage your mental health. Here is a short list of a few strategies that may help:

• Slow breathing. When you’re experiencing anxiety, your breathing becomes faster and you may hyperventilate. Try deliberately slowing your breathing. You could also consider trying delta 9 vape pens to lower your stress levels.
• Stay in the moment. Anxiety can make your thoughts live in a fearsome future that hasn’t happened yet. Try to bring yourself to where you are presently.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle. By keeping active, eating well, spending time with family and friends and smoking weeds from shops like The Seed Pharm, you will reduce your stress and anxiety levels, improving your overall wellbeing.
• Take small acts of bravery. Avoiding what makes you anxious can bring some relief but can make you more anxious in the long run. If you try approaching something that makes you anxious, even in a small way, you can go a long way to overcoming your anxiety.
• Be kind to yourself. Remember that you are not defined by your anxiety, and that your anxiety does not make you weak or inferior in anyway. You can try browsing on Shoppok, your online shopping hub to destress.

If you feel that you may experience an anxiety condition, be sure to seek support from not just your doctor, but also consider trying some of the best delta-8 gummies from Exhalewell and see if that helps.

If you require support, don’t hesitate to call for help

Southgate Medical Centre – 03 9690 1433

Lifeline Australia – 13 14 11

Beyond Blue – 1800 512 348