How is fast food bad for you

Some restaurants put calorie information in their menus to let you know how much food energy each meal has and others go even further to add healthier alternatives to their menu. Despite all of this fast food nutrition leaves a lot to be desired. One review done in showed that while the nutritional quality of menu offerings at some fast-food restaurant chains has increased over time further improvements are needed to help better the food quality for the masses 4.

Breakfast has been deemed as the most important meal of the day and all for good reason. Having some healthy and nutritious meal in the morning helps kickstart your metabolism ensuring that you are burning calories throughout the day. This is especially important for anyone looking to manage or lose weight.

This will help keep you better focused at work or in school. A wholesome and well-balanced breakfast meal can also help provide your body with some essential nutrients that you require for good health. If you wish to free yourself from all the extra pounds that have been weighting you down for way too long, start using the BetterMe app and overhaul your entire life!

As mentioned above, fast food meal options do not usually reflect the recommendations of a well-balanced diet. Breakfast options offered at many fast food restaurants often reflect this. Instead of having that doughnut or croissant, opt to make a breakfast meal at home; one that is full of carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, and fiber. Some popular breakfasts at fast food restaurants can have up to calories with 65 g of fat 25 g of that being saturated fat. Not only do these fat quantities go above the saturated fat limit for most people, but having calories in one meal is too much.

For some this food energy intake covers all their intake for the day. Such a meal automatically means that you have cleared all your allotted calories for the day and you should not eat anything else; which is unhealthy and impossible. Fast foods are full of simple carbs which are fast digesting and give little energy to the body which means that you will be hungry again in no time. Making coffee at home is not just a budget-friendly tip, but it is also a great way to protect your heart health.

Your favorite order at your coffee place of choice is most probably incredibly sweet which attests to how much added sugar is in the recipe. Consuming too much sugar can raise your blood pressure and increase chronic inflammation putting you at a higher risk of heart diseases, like heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes. Too much sugar leads to too much insulin in the body, which not only affects your heart, but also leads to a fatty liver, which can contribute to diabetes.

Too much sugar can also lead to kidney damage, may increase joint pain and increase your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, may rot your teeth, and put you at a greater risk of depression.

Too much salt can lead to water retention, increases blood pressure, as well as increasing your risk of stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis, stomach cancer and kidney disease. If having some fast food for breakfast is unavoidable for you, strive to look for low sodium and healthier options on the menu.

You can be surprised to find some healthy and nutritious dietitian recommended breakfast foods at such places. Yes, there are. Thanks to many fast food restaurants making an effort to diversify and include more healthy foods to their diet, you can find some high protein fast food meals from many american fast food chains.

Many fast foods served are derived from animal products, deep fried and served with cheese and high-fat dipping sauces. That occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries and prevents the flow of blood to the heart and organs," says White. What's more, fast food can lower your good HDL cholesterol, further putting your heart and your health on the line. PhIP is short for 2-Aminomethylphenylimidazo 4,5-b pyridine. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, this catchy-sounding chemical appeared in over samples of fast food grilled chicken that were tested in a study published in Nutrition and Cancer.

The organization says the substance, which forms when meat is heated to a certain temperature, is associated with human breast, prostate, and colon cancers. After a class-action lawsuit was filed in , the Daily News reported that Burger King settled the suit and agreed to post warnings in its California restaurants.

Plus, you'll also find sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite in fast food meats. These additives are used to maintain meat color and to inhibit bacterial growth. Both chemicals can break down into nitrosamines, substances with the potential to cause cancer, according to a meta-analysis published in the journal Nutrients.

Fats commonly found in fast food are made up of saturated fatty acids. Those are fats that are solid at room temperature, often derived from animals and some plant oils, such as palm oil. You'll find it abundant in, say, a cheeseburger or french fries. White warns that these fats can raise your "bad" LDL cholesterol levels , which leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. As we mentioned, fast food is typically loaded with sodium. One Big Mac has mg of sodium, well over one-third of the daily recommended allowance.

A high sodium intake can cause your bones to weaken, leading to possible osteoporosis, Shapiro warns. After reading this, you'll start to question why anyone thought to call it a "Happy Meal. By Grant Stoddard. Whooping cough. Reasons why fast food is bad for health. Count: We have sent you a verification email.

To verify, just follow the link in the message. Updated: Nov 7, , IST. The greasy, sugary and full of fat food makes you happy with every single bite but is it really worth it? How bad can this indulgence be for you? With risks we already know and consequences we associate with, fast foods are a definitive no-no.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Type 2 Diabetes. The Effects of Fast Food on the Body. Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R. Digestive and cardiovascular systems Sugar and fat Sodium Respiratory system Central nervous system Reproductive system Integumentary system Skeletal system Effects on society Popularity of fast food Swinging through the drive-thru or hopping into your favorite fast-food restaurant tends to happen more often than some would like to admit.

Share on Pinterest. Effect on the digestive and cardiovascular systems. Sugar and fat. Effect on the respiratory system.