In some respects, fast foods represent all that is wrong with the modern diet. According to the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, most people get too much fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol -- the less-desirable nutrients found in high concentrations in many fast food meals. Besides driving up calorie totals, too many "risky" nutrients displace the dietary fiber and vitamins and minerals that the USDA says people don't eat in sufficient quantities. The nutritional imbalance from this poor diet can create metabolic havoc and raise the risk for chronic health problems.
Fat and Sugar Facts
Fast foods get their high-calorie fame in large part from fat and sugar. Because your body cells can only use so much of this energy, you store the excess as fat, and you will probably gain weight. A large hamburger, fries and a 16-oz. cola have 1,235 calories, notes the USDA.
High-fat culprits include double-patty burgers and french fries, which together contain nearly 100 percent of your total daily fat allowance. Excessive sugar comes in milkshakes, sodas and even cheeseburgers. Becoming overweight or obese from this poor diet increases your risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, asthma and arthritis health problems, the Office of the Surgeon General relates.
Salt Facts
Most drive-through sandwiches and sides rely on large quantities of salt as flavor enhancers. As the American Heart Association reports, high salt intake creates high blood pressure in some people, which can lead to heart disease. So even if you don't gain weight, a poor diet of salty fries, meats and deep-fried, battered foods can give you cardiovascular health problems.
The USDA lists fast food submarine sandwiches, bacon cheeseburgers, tacos and biscuit breakfast sandwiches among all foods highest in sodium, which is largely derived from added salt. Foods that you might not consider salty, but that have more than 20 percent of your daily allowance of sodium, include French toast sticks, pancakes, taco salad and bean burritos.
Cholesterol Facts
Breakfast sandwiches and fried seafood contribute high cholesterol, with burgers following closely behind. Egg and meat sandwiches on any kind of bread contain from 66 to 100 percent of your daily cholesterol allotment, notes the USDA. Frequent indulgence in these and fried fast foods can cause more health problems with your blood vessels.
The AHA reports that excess cholesterol builds up as plaque inside blood vessels, narrowing the space for blood to flow. This condition, called atherosclerosis, can occur in children and adults and may cause heart attack and stroke.
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