Metabolic Disease Risk Increases With Just A Little Junk Food

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, everyone's ready for a hefty meal of excess turkey and stuffing. Most of us can excuse a few extra servings of our favorite casserole because holidays like this only happen a few times a year, right?

Well, it's occasional gorging that increases the risk of metabolic disease, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that in some, overindulgence during dinner or even during snack time is enough to trigger signs of metabolic disease--a cluster of conditions--increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels - that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

During the study, researchers first included a group of 10 healthy male volunteers and a second group of nine volunteers with metabolic syndrome who also had a combination of two or more risk factors for heart disease, including high blood lipids and abdominal fat. They both had blood samples take both before and after a high-fat milkshake. More specifically, the study authors searched for 61 biomarkers that included cholesterol and blood sugar, finding biochemical processes related to fat metabolism, inflammation and sugar metabolism that were abnormal in those with metabolic syndrome. 

Ten healthy male volunteers were also given a snack that consisted of 1,300 kcal per day via savory and sweet products that included things like tarts, peanuts, candy bars and crisps for four weeks. The researchers looked for the same 61 biomarkers--noting the very subtle start of negative health effects similar to counterparts with metabolic disease. 

"Eating junk food is one of those situations where our brains say 'yes' and our bodies say 'no,'" said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal, in a news release. "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."

The study is published in THE FASEB Journal. 

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