By Healthy Living January 21, 2021 - 3:31am

A bad diet is often associated with belly fat, but poor dietary habits can cause more health problems than excess weight. An unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for health conditions like liver disease and bone problems. The health consequences of an unhealthy diet can wreak havoc on your overall wellbeing and decrease the quality of your life. For this reason, if you want to improve your health it is worth starting with healthy and balanced nutrition.

Below are 7 health issues that can be associated with a bad diet.

1. Fatty liver disease
Most cases of fatty liver disease develop because of alcohol abuse, but a poor diet can also cause it. This is the leading cause of chronic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the United States that affects over 80 million Americans.

To decrease the risk of nutrition-related fatty liver disease you need to avoid saturated fatty acids, trans‐fats, simple sugars, and animal proteins. Try to replace them with monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated omega‐3‐fats, and plant‐based proteins. This can help you prevent and relieve the severity of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

2. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a serious health condition. In this condition, your bones become weak and fragile. This increases the risk of breaks and fractures significantly. Several diet-related risk factors can increase your risk of osteoporosis. One of them is insufficient calcium and vitamin D intake. The deficiency of these nutrients weakens your bones and makes them more susceptible to wear and tear.

Another diet-related risk factor for osteoporosis is an increased intake of alcohol. Heavy alcohol consumption decreases bone density and weakens their mechanical properties. This happens because alcohol kills the bone-making cells and increases the production of a hormone that drains calcium from the bone.

3. Poor dental health
Your diet has a huge impact on your dental health. A poor diet can increase your risk of tooth decay, gums inflammation, enamel erosion, and periodontal disease. Foods like chips, soda, sports drinks, and sweets are loaded with sugar. When you consume these products, sugars cover your teeth and promote bacteria breeding. Bacteria produce acids thereby increasing the acidity in your mouth, destroying tooth enamel, and weakening gums.

A poor diet often lacks nutrients that ensure strong teeth and enamel. This makes your teeth more susceptible to the detrimental effects of bacteria. Reduce your intake of these products to ensure good dental health. If you experience tooth pain or another discomfort, visit a dental specialist to address the issue.

4. Hair loss
An unhealthy diet can result in sudden and severe hair loss. When you don’t get enough vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients from your diet, this can wreak havoc on your hair and scalp health. If your diet lacks protein(the main building block of most body tissues) the hair becomes brittle and more likely to fall out. After three months of protein deficiency, this decreases your body’s ability to produce new hair follicles and result in baldness.

Another nutrient essential for healthy hair is iron. Lack of iron in your diet can weaken your hair follicles and cause hair loss. You need to eat healthy and balanced foods to keep your locks long and strong.

5. Constipation
While for most people constipation doesn't sound like a serious health problem, chronic constipation can decrease the quality of your life significantly. There are many diet-related factors that contribute to constipation. A diet that lacks fiber and water is the main cause of irregular bowel movements.

The bulk and soft texture of fiber prevent hard and dry stools that are difficult to pass. The best sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. For healthy bowel movements, you need to eat about 30 grams of fiber every day. It’s also important to drink enough water during the day. Dehydration makes stool dry and hard to pass. Make sure you drink about 12 cups of water per day to prevent constipation.