Most of us will stop at a fast food joint and not think twice about how doing so can impact us in the future. Sure, you may realize that it isn’t particularly the best for your health, but are you aware that it also changes your behavior—and not in a good way?
Here are three ways in which your fast food habits may actually be creating actions that can hurt you long-term:
#1: Fast food doesn’t give you time to think. While it is great that fast food can help you satisfy your hunger immediately, giving in to your tummy after the first rumble isn’t always helpful or necessary. For instance, you may just be experiencing a craving due to boredom and not true physical hunger, which would go away on its own if you distracted yourself by doing something else instead of feeding it. Also, if you never let yourself feel hunger, you’ll lose touch with how your body signals you when it is time to eat.
#2: Its high salt content makes it hard to determine how full you are. When you consume a lot of sodium, your body has a difficult time figuring out when you have eaten enough to be satisfied. Do this enough over time and you will regularly eat too much, causing pounds to pack on faster than ever.
#3: It creates false comfort. Because most of the foods available at fast food establishments are high in carbs and fat, they increase your serotonin levels which also raise your feelings of comfort. The problem is that it is a false comfort and one that will only last until your blood sugars fall and your body tells you to eat them again in order to feel good.
Eating fast food regularly can change your behaviors enough to thwart your health and fitness goals long-term. Therefore, you’ll want to keep your visits to these places to a minimum. Your waistline will thank you.
