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We’ve all been in a place where we eat foods we wouldn’t eat on a good day. If you’re really hungry, really cranky, or just really In the mood, we’ve all had those cookies or that side of fries.
Unfortunately, those who overeat during snack time may be putting themselves at risk of metabolic disease just by taking that one extra bite.
Some study participants needed only to eat a high-fat milkshake to boost their risk of metabolic syndrome. Others were able to boost their risk over a short period of time, with just a few snacks.
The study involved giving healthy participants and those suffering metabolic syndrome a milkshake, and measuring biomarkers before and after the milkshake. Then, they gave healthy participants 1,300 calories worth of extra junk food every day for 4 weeks, and measured their biomarkers—like cholesterol and blood sugar—against those with metabolic syndrome.
What happened was pretty disturbing. The healthy participants, at the end of the four weeks, resembled the beginnings of the health effects of metabolic disease.
This is dangerous, since metabolic syndrome is a number of conditions, and they all increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These conditions can include high blood sugar, high blood pressure, more body fat, and high cholesterol.
Editor-in-chief of the FASEB Journal Dr. Gerald Weissman said, “Eating junk food is one of those situations where our brains say ‘yes’ and our bodies say ‘no.’ Unfortunately for us, this report shows that we need to use our brains and listen to our bodies. Even one unhealthy snack has negative consequences that extend far beyond any pleasure it brings.”
