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Frequent reliance on takeaway and fast food may significantly raise the risk of heart and vascular disease, according to Prof. Dr. Yuksel Dogan, a cardiologist at Medipol University Camlica Hospital in Istanbul.
In a statement shared by the hospital, Dogan drew attention to the growing habit of eating out in step with a fast-paced lifestyle and said this pattern can take a serious toll on cardiovascular health. He stressed that home-cooked meals play an important part in protecting the heart and blood vessels, especially when compared with heavily processed foods.
Dogan said fast food products are usually made up of processed foods that come with high calories, excessive salt and sugar, while also falling short in fiber and antioxidants. He added that the fats used in such products are often unhealthy trans fats, which are industrial fats commonly linked to poorer cardiovascular outcomes.
He also noted that fast food can push appetite up because of its calorie-dense content and sweeteners, which may lead people to eat more often over time. That pattern, he said, can gradually bring about weight gain and obesity.
Pointing to both short- and long-term effects, Dogan said the sugars found in fast food can cause blood sugar to rise rapidly. He said this may leave people feeling tired or sleepy in the short term, while over time it can lay the groundwork for diabetes.
He also warned that too much salt can drive up the risk of hypertension, or persistently high blood pressure, which is a major factor in cardiovascular disease.
According to Dogan, high-calorie processed foods can not only lead to obesity but also open the door to a wider cluster of health problems. He said obesity, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnea may appear together as part of metabolic syndrome, a condition in which several interconnected risk factors build up at the same time.
He underlined that this combination can sharply increase the likelihood of heart and vascular disease, adding that healthy eating remains a key part of protecting heart health.
Dogan said home-cooked meals differ from processed foods because they allow people to keep salt and sugar levels in check and stay away from additives. For a healthier life, he said, people should opt for real foods and steer clear of processed products as much as possible.
He also noted that foods eaten out of season may carry certain risks, and said naturally grown seasonal products should be chosen whenever possible.
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