An unhealthy diet fails to provide your body with the correct amounts and types of nutrients for maximum health. The average American diet contains too many calories and not enough fruits and vegetables. In addition, certain types of foods are more likely to cause medical problems than others. Know what makes up an unhealthy diet and avoid those nutrition pitfalls.
Too Many Calories
Too many or too few calories create an unhealthy diet. With 67 percent of Americans overweight or obese, many people consume too many calories regularly. Overeating leads to a host of health problems, including heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes and certain types of cancer. You can reduce your risk of these problems by taking steps to control your calories and maintain a healthy weight. However, if you do not eat enough calories due to engaging in anorexic or bulimic behaviors, your body can suffer as well. Too few calories can result in loss of muscle mass, heart problems and death.