Two reasons why you should avoid FAST FOOD

Fast food in Yambol, Bulgaria
(Photo credit: Wikipedia) 

There are so many reasons to avoid eating at fast food restaurants, many of which we don’t really think about on a regular basis. There are things like obesity and the caloric content of the food that is constantly explored in the media and in studies. But what two big reasons are there to stay away from fast food?

Low Food Quality

When you think about fast food, you don’t necessarily think about the quality of the food. When you are seeking out fast food, you are thinking more about getting something into you rather than what exactly you are putting into your body. In truth, most fast food is of very low quality. This isn’t just about the ingredients that are used (or aren’t) but also the preparation of the food and ingredients.

Ingredients in most fast food are cloudy on the best of days. Despite the new trend of restaurants releasing information about what goes into their menus, there is still some mystery surrounding just exactly what goes into some of our favorite fast foods. Some foods have things that you cannot pronounce in them, while others aren’t truly the proteins that they claim to be serving. You can tell the quality of the food by the quality of the ingredients, and in most cases, it just simply isn’t up to par. From the wilty lettuce to the rubbery cheese, it is just proof that the cheapest products are being used to produce the biggest amount of food that they can.

Preparation is a key step in fast food. The whole point of the restaurants is for them to be fast. But at what cost? Companies tell their employees to cut corners in order to get the job done in a timely manner. This might mean more frozen food than you thought, as well as improperly trained employees handling your food. Is all of this really worth getting that cheap cheeseburger?

Health Effects

In addition to the poor conditions that the food is produced, there can be huge health effects because of the consumption of large amounts of fast food. Weight gain is nearly guaranteed, based on the fact that fast food tends to be so high in fat content. But besides the weight gain, you need to keep in mind that most fast food has a very low nutritional value. How many essential vitamins and minerals do you figure that you can get a fast food meal? Not many in most cases. Fast food is loaded with preservatives, and even the “healthy options” on menus are loaded with fats that aren’t really needed in your daily diet.

Fast foods may be a staple in many diets across the country, but they really shouldn’t be. There are so many reasons to avoid fast food, some of which we don’t necessarily hear about. More people need to be made aware of what they are putting into their bodies when they are eating from fast food restaurants.

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How does FAST FOOD affect your health?

Fast food does not necessarily mean healthy food. In fact, fast food is linked to several health concerns with increased consumption. From weight gain, to addiction, fast food can become extremely harmful to your mind and body when consumed in larger amounts over a short period of time. It is important to know what kind of risk you are putting your body through in order to be able to make good choices about what you put into your body, and how much you are putting it in. 

Fast food in Yambol, Bulgaria
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The effects of fast food on the body can vary greatly, and can also be dependent on pre-existing conditions. Let’s take a look at some of these effects.

Caloric Intake and Weight Gain

The average fast food lunch meal has more than enough calories for a single meal. This high caloric intake translates into an over-intake for the daily needed supply. On a normal low-activity work day, this means that less energy is being spent than is being taken in, eventually leading to weight gain. The sheer amount of unused fat that is taken in from fast food can translate into a 10 lbs weight gain, putting more and more people into the category of obese, even more entering the territory of morbidly obese.

Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

With obesity comes insulin resistance, when the insulin that is naturally produced in the body is ineffective in regulating blood glucose levels. Insulin resistance is linked to several severe health issues, most of which is also linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes can be a life changing diagnosis, leading to much more serious problems down the line if it is not handled properly.

Fat Increase and Cardiac Events

Weight that is gained from eating fast food is not muscle, it is fat. When our body is bombarded with more fat than we need, our blood vessels will react in a way that isn’t normal. This abnormal function may not be troublesome to most, but to someone who has pre-existing heart problems, it could mean a heart attack or even death.

Depression and Addiction Development

Those who consume a larger amounts of fast food are much more likely to develop depression. Weight gain and shame surrounding it are catalysts for this depression. Insecurities stemming from the shame need to be cured, and that is when the addiction to fast food will develop. Fast food gives the depressed person a “high” that other things won’t. I can have huge mood altering affects, helping the addicted focus on the good memories attached rather than the negative effects that are seen.

Though fast food is something that many people enjoy, in larger amounts it can cause some pretty serious health problems. There is nothing to say that every once and a while fast food will be terrible for you, but like with most things, moderation is the key. In excess, you can expect to have some very serious issues with your health. But with balance with healthy food, fast food can be a great addition to a regular diet.

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