Is Fast Food Bad for You?
Fast food is nothing but food that can be consumed really fast; there's no cooking and cleaning up time involved. In today's world of cut throat competition, nobody has the time to slave over the stove and prepare a healthy meal. We all want to grab something quickly and get going. And for this need of ours, fast food fits perfectly. A variety of fast food is available at vending machines, 24-hour convenience stores, drive-through windows, etc. After a long day at work, the convenience of grabbing some fast food is simply so tempting. Moreover, it pacifies our palates and keeps us and the kids happy. However, we keep hearing how detrimental it can be to our health. So is fast food bad for your health?
Just like how money in itself is not bad, it's what we use it for that makes it good or bad, similarly fast food cannot be termed as 'bad'. Fast food does not contain any compound that is deleterious. They contain lots of fat, calories, cholesterol and sodium; far more than what we would attain from other food sources. Herbs, spices, salt, monosodium glutamate and sugars are added to bring flavor. They also contain food preservatives and artificial colors. So then, why is fast food unhealthy? Let's find out!
Poor Nutrition
What mostly makes a fast food diet an unhealthy one is its absence of essential nutrients. Consuming fast food on a daily basis can prove detrimental, as it deprives our bodies of the nutrients required for functioning of the body. Fast food fills our stomachs easily and we end up filling our bodies with only fat, cholesterol and unwanted calories. We end up being vitamin and essential nutrient deficient.
Increases Belly Fat
Fast food and obesity go hand in hand. A diet that lacks essential nutrients results in poor dietary fiber levels in the body. This results in destabilization of blood sugar levels, weakening of the immune system, reduction of the colons ability to function properly and also reduces body metabolic rate. As a result, body's fat storage increases, especially if one leads a sedentary lifestyle. Since fast food is addictive in nature, it causes one to buy and eat more of it. This results in accumulation of belly fat and causes one's waistline to bulge, and therefore, weight gain and obesity follow.
Clogs Arteries
Fast food is high in cholesterol and increases cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. As the blood passes through the arteries, they get deposited to their walls in the form of plaque. As fast as food consumption increases, the plaque build up also increases. Gradually the arteries will get clogged, leading to atherosclerosis. Clogged arteries prevent flow of oxygenated blood to the heart, thereby resulting in strokes.
Increases Risks of Heart Disease
Fast food is high in sodium content. The kidneys are responsible for maintaining appropriate levels of sodium in the body. Consuming large amounts of sodium gives the kidneys less time to throw them all out. The inability of the kidneys to eliminate sodium from the body, results in sodium build up in the body. High levels of sodium in the bloodstream causes the heart to pump harder, in an effort to eliminate sodium. Blood pressure rises, thereby increasing risks of hypertension, heart disease and kidney disease in the future.
Is Fast Food Bad During Pregnancy?
Fast food must be avoided by pregnant women. The simple reason being, fast food contain loads of sugar, salt and sometimes even chemicals that can prove deleterious for the fetus and the mother. Moreover, consumption of fast food can cause excess weight gain, pushing the mother and child to obesity. Obesity in pregnant women can lead to gestational diabetes, which only makes things more complicated for the mother and baby.
Fast food companies are minting money by feeding you tons of calories, which is gradually pushing you to your own body's destruction. So it is important you limit your fast food consumption to not more than once a week. Moreover, don't blindly believe the tag 'healthy' that fast food joints attach to their salads. It is simply amazing how these fast food joints can transform healthy salads into fatty ones. They sure contain fresh vegetables, however, the rich salad dressing ruins the health factor completely. So be careful about what you eat and try and pick healthy food items, lest you want to bounce away all your life with tons of extra weight. The best part here is that it's never too late to change your eating habits, even if you were following an unhealthy routine all these years.
