Effects of an Unhealthy Diet

Take the old adage, "you are what you eat" seriously. All of the cells in your body require nutrients to function, and with the wrong nutrients--or not enough of the right ones--your health will suffer. Eating poorly can cause weight gain, poor concentration, disturbed sleep, headaches, dizziness, tooth decay and fatigue and is implicated in a wide variety of diseases. Improving your diet can significantly lower your risk for a number of diseases.

Cancer

• According to Cancer Research UK, an unhealthy diet increases the risk of developing cancer, and accounts for 10 to 30 percent of cancer deaths in developed countries. Specifically, red meat, salt and high amounts of saturated fats have been linked to higher rates of cancer, though it is difficult to accurately measure cause and effect like this over a lifetime.

Diabetes

• Obesity, a condition caused by eating an unhealthy diet, can lead to type 2 diabetes, a potentially life threatening condition. Patients with type 2 diabetes are unable to regulate insulin, and experience extreme spikes in blood sugar that can cause blindness, infection, kidney failure, hypoglycemic shock and death. The Mayo Clinic advises eating a diet rich in fiber and fresh fruits and vegetables to control blood sugar and body weight.

Heart Disease

• Diets rich in saturated fat result in high levels of fat in the blood. Fat circulating in the blood can clog arteries and lead to heart disease. A diet high in salt increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart attacks. An unhealthy diet is a significant risk factor for developing heart disease, according to the World Heart Federation.