The average American eats about 24 percent of his meals in a restaurant setting, Roberta Larson Duyff and the American Dietetic Association report in their book, "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide." Many of these meals are in the form of convenient fast food meals. Eating a diet high in fast food can cause your health to decline and will prevent you from consuming the nutrients you need to stay well.
Too Much Salt
Many people consume far more than the 1 teaspoon daily limit of salt that is recommended for good health. Fast food contributes to a diet high in sodium because the menu items often contain a great deal of added salt. Eric Schlosser reports in his book, "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal," that French fries are one of the worst offenders because, after they are fried, they are coated with salt. Salt is also often added to the burgers and chicken as they cook. Other menu items include high-sodium ingredients, such as cheese or ranch dressing, that further increase the total milligrams of sodium your fast food meal contains. A diet high in sodium can lead to heart disease and high blood pressure and can also cause you to retain water and feel bloated and uncomfortable after eating.
Too Much Fat
A diet high in fat, particularly saturated fats and trans fats, is one of the leading causes of obesity, poor cardiovascular health, high blood pressure and diabetes. Schlosser notes that the majority of fast food menu items contain several grams of saturated fats, particularly the cheeseburgers and the fried chicken and fish sandwiches. French fries are also high in saturated fats, which can clog your arteries and cause many life threatening medical problems. Many fast food restaurants continue to use oils that contain trans fat, which are the least healthiest fats for your body. You should limit your intake of trans fats and eating fast food makes this goal a difficult one to achieve.
Too Little Nutrition
Your daily meals should include a healthy combination of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Eating fast food meals on a regular basis makes it challenging for you to consume the nutrients you need to be healthy as well as to prevent dangerous health conditions. The burgers and chicken sandwiches provide some protein, but too much fat to be considered a healthy menu item. The buns used to serve the sandwiches are made with white flour and contain very little fiber. Many fast food meals contain no fruits or vegetables, which are important for you to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly.
References
- "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide"; Roberta Larson Duyff and the American Dietetic Association; 2006
- "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal"; Eric Schlosser; 2001
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