7 Effects of Greasy Food on Your Body

Not only can you find greasy foods in fast food outlets, but you can also find them in the workplace, in restaurants, in schools, and even in your own house.

The majority of dishes that are deemed greasy are those that are fried or cooked with an excessive amount of oil. They consist of fried foods such as french fries and potato chips, as well as fried foods such as onion rings, cheeseburgers, and doughnuts.

These foods are typically heavy in calories, fat, refined carbohydrates, and salt, but they are typically lacking in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Greasy meals have the potential to have a detrimental impact, on your body as well as your health, although they can occasionally be a delightful treat.

The following are seven impacts that eating greasy meals can have on your body.

1. May result in bloating, cramping in the abdomen, and diarrhea

Fat is the macronutrient that is absorbed in the slowest rate, followed by carbohydrates and then protein.

The emptying of the stomach is slowed down by fatty foods because these foods contain a high percentage of fat. As a result, food remains in your stomach for a longer period, which can result in bloating, nausea, and abdominal pain.

People who suffer from digestive complaints, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic pancreatitis, or the stomach flu, may experience abdominal pain, cramps, and diarrhea when they consume significant amounts of fatty foods.

2. May harm the flora of your gut

It is well acknowledged that foods high in fat can be harmful to the beneficial bacteria that live in your digestive tract.

The following are influenced by this community of microorganisms, which is also referred to as the gut microbiome:

• Digestion of fiber. Short-chain fatty acids, also known as SCFAs, are created when bacteria in your gut break down fiber to make them. These SCFAs have anti-inflammatory effects and may protect against digestive problems.
• Immune reaction. The microbiome in your stomach can communicate with immune cells, which helps your body regulate its response to illnesses.
• Control of one’s weight. There may be an imbalance of bacteria in the stomach, which may contribute to weight gain.
• Good for the gut. The development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been linked to disruptions in the microbiome of the gut. Probiotics, which are alive, healthy microorganisms present in specific meals, may help relieve symptoms of IBS.
• Protection of the heart. Beneficial species of gut bacteria may help increase levels of heart-protective HDL cholesterol, while bad species may generate substances that damage arteries and contribute to the development of heart disease.

A high-fat diet, such as one high in greasy foods, may harm your gut microbiome by increasing the number of unhealthy gut bacteria and decreasing the number of healthy gut bacteria.

These changes could be connected to obesity as well as other chronic illnesses like Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Despite this, there is a need for additional research on nutrition and the health of the gut.

3. May contribute to increased body fat and obesity

Due to the high number of calories that they contain, greasy foods, which are prepared by cooking with a lot of fat, may contribute to weight gain.

A small baked potato (3.5 ounces or 100 grams) contains only 93 calories and 0.1 grams of fat, whereas the same amount of french fries contains 312 calories and 15 grams of fat.

Increasing consumption of fried meals and foods from fast food restaurants has been linked in observational studies to increased rates of weight gain and obesity.

Several diseases and disorders are linked to obesity, some of which are as serious as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some malignancies.

Specifically, consuming a large amount of trans fat can lead to an increase in body weight.

When vegetable oils undergo a chemical process that makes them solid at room temperature, this results in the formation of trans fats. Because of the usage of partly hydrogenated vegetable oils in frying and the preparation of food, trans fats can still be found in a variety of fatty meals. This is because of the regulations that have been placed on their use.

Trans fats have been shown in animal experiments to be associated with slight increases in body weight, even in the absence of an increase in calorie consumption.

In addition, research that lasted for eight years and included 41,518 women found that overweight women gained an additional 2.3 pounds (1 kilogram) for every 1% increase in the amount of trans fat that they consumed.

Even if this finding hasn’t been supported by other research, consuming oily foods daily is likely to make it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.

4. May put you at a higher risk of developing heart disease and a stroke

Consuming foods high in fat and cholesterol can have several adverse impacts on heart health.

Fried meals, for instance, have been demonstrated to raise blood pressure, bring about a reduction in HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), and cause both weight gain and obesity, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Potato chips, for instance, are linked to higher levels of inflammation and may play a role in the development of heart disease, according to a study.

Additionally, the frequency with which you consume fried meals may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in you.

According to the findings of one study, the risk of heart failure among women who consumed one or more servings of fried fish each week was 48% higher than the risk among women who consumed only one to three servings of fried fish each month.

Another study found that individuals who consumed two or more dishes of fried fish per week had a risk of heart attack or stroke which was 63 percent higher than individuals who consumed one meal or fewer per month.

In addition, a big observational study that was conducted in 22 countries and included 6,000 participants found a correlation between eating fried meals, pizza, and salty snacks and an elevated risk of stroke by 16%.

5. May make you more susceptible to developing diabetes

Consuming foods high in saturated fats may raise the chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

Fast food consumption, which includes not only fatty foods but also sugary drinks, results in a high total calorie intake, which leads to weight gain, poor blood sugar management, and increased inflammation.

In turn, these factors raise the likelihood that a person may develop type 2 diabetes as well as metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of disorders that includes obesity, hypertension, and high blood sugar.

For instance, one major observational study indicated that increasing one’s consumption of fried meals from one to three times per week raised one’s risk of type 2 diabetes by 15%, and increasing one’s consumption of fried foods from seven or more times per week increased one’s risk by 55%. 

Another study found that people who consumed fast food more than twice per week had a greater risk of developing insulin resistance, which can be a precursor to diabetes, compared to those who consumed fast food less than once per week. Those who consumed fast food less than once per week had a lower risk of developing insulin resistance.

6. Could result in acne

Many people believe that eating greasy foods might cause acne breakouts.

A Western diet that is high in refined carbohydrates, greasy foods, and fried foods has been linked to acne in numerous research studies.

A study that involved more than 5,000 Chinese adolescents discovered that consuming fried foods regularly raises the incidence of acne by 17%. In addition, a second study involving 2,300 Turkish adolescents found that the incidence of acne was 24% higher among those who consumed oily foods such as burgers and sausages.

However, the particular mechanism that causes this impact is not yet fully understood.

According to the findings of some studies, a bad diet can change gene expression and modify hormone levels in a way that contributes to the development of acne.

Acne-causing inflammation may also be exacerbated by Western diets with a high omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in oily fish, algae, and nuts, whereas omega-6 fatty acids can be found in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds.

Because of the high omega-6 content of the oils used in frying fatty foods, this ratio may become unbalanced as a result of the frying process.

Some oily meals, such as fried doughnuts, are likewise high in refined carbohydrates. Sugars and refined grains are two examples of foods that have had their fiber and many of their nutrients removed.

Due to their effect on hormones, particularly androgens and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), sugary meals may exacerbate acne by increasing the creation of skin cells and natural skin oils (IGF-1).

Bear in mind that there is a need for additional research on the causes of acne.

7. May affect brain function

A diet high in greasy, fatty foods may cause issues with brain function.

The harm to your brain’s structure, tissues, and activity that is linked to greasy foods is associated with the same factors that make you gain weight, have high blood pressure, and have metabolic syndrome.

Two large studies involving 5,083 and 18,080 people, respectively, linked diets high in fatty and fried meals to a decrease in cognitive ability and memory, as well as an increase in inflammation.

Additionally, research has connected a decline in brain function to diets high in trans fats.

One study including 1,018 adults found a correlation between each gram of trans fat consumed per day and poorer word recall, pointing to possible memory damage.

In addition, a study that involved 38 women found a correlation between consuming a larger amount of saturated and trans fats and having a lower capacity for word recall and recognition, as well as a lower level of performance in spatial activities.

A meta-analysis of 12 separate research found a relationship between trans and saturated fat and an increased risk of dementia, even though several of the studies’ findings were inconsistent.

Overall, there is a need for additional investigation.