| Having a poor diet is probably one of the worst | | | | caffeine a day (3 cups of strong coffee or 8 |
| habits we can get caught up in. Smoking and | | | | glasses of coke) has been associated with poor |
| drinking are habits or behavior patterns acquired | | | | job performance and insomnia. With only caffeine |
| by frequent repetition. Intake varies, while the | | | | as an energy supplement, the body's defensive |
| debilitating and detrimental effects are generally | | | | systems are weakened. Sickness comes more |
| long term. On the other hand, a poor diet can | | | | often and stays longer. Arteries begin to clog as |
| rapidly affect the body's ability to function | | | | fat and cholesterol build up. Gastrointestinal and |
| properly. High-fat fast foods, while quick, cheap | | | | digestive problems mount as the body struggles |
| and easy, have very little to offer the body. Yet | | | | to maintain operation without the proper materials. |
| they have become prevalent in our fast-paced | | | | Excess fat, not burned off, deposits itself in |
| society. Fast food in general is very high in salt | | | | unsightly places around the body. The body |
| and fat, especially saturated fat. A salty diet is | | | | struggles to carry more weight with fewer and |
| known to be a factor in the cause of high blood | | | | fewer reserves of energy. |
| pressure. A diet high in saturated fat has been | | | | Today, obesity is second only to smoking as a |
| associated with increased blood cholesterol, which | | | | contributor to illness and premature death. Other |
| is linked with cardiovascular diseases like coronary | | | | illnesses known to be related, in varying degrees, |
| heart disease and stroke. A high saturated fat | | | | to obesity are: sleep apnea, gall bladder disease, |
| diet in general is also associated with certain | | | | infertility, and degenerative arthritis of the knees, |
| cancers as well as obesity. Fundamentally these | | | | hips, and ankles caused by the stress on joints |
| foods lack essential nutrients and vitamins. This | | | | from carrying the extra body weight. Obesity can |
| robs the body of the proper materials needed to | | | | also lead to the onset of diseases such as |
| produce energy. We are left with a tired, sluggish, | | | | noninsulin dependent diabetes, hypertension, |
| and lazy body that has become complacent. This | | | | coronary heart disease, kidney failure, and certain |
| laziness becomes comfortable as a general feeling | | | | cancers. It's a downward spiral leading to an |
| of heaviness pervades the body. | | | | inevitable failure of bodily systems. The good |
| Sugar-filled soda or coffee high in caffeine has | | | | news is that nutritional issues are now widely |
| become the drink of choice as an energy | | | | discussed in the media and eating better has |
| supplement, but in reality this saps the body of | | | | almost become trendy. The bad news is that |
| even more energy. Caffeine is a stimulant of the | | | | nutritionally poor food is still consumed by millions |
| central nervous system and therefore makes you | | | | of people - which will no doubt increase as fast |
| more alert. It also seems to decrease absorption | | | | food chains continue to spread around the globe. |
| of calcium and iron. Roughly 400 mg or more of | | | | |