Fast food is one of the culprits that is responsible for increasing the number of unhealthy people around the world. Fast food is high in calories, fat and sodium, and low in valuable nutrients. Yet it seems to be the food eaten more and more often by many people because of its convenience. However, it is inconvenient that these tasty foods will lead to heart problems for many.
Fats
Fast food is filled with unhealthy fats that can be hazardous to your health because they can raise cholesterol, clog arteries and lead to weight gain. These foods contain a high amount of both saturated fats and trans fats that make the food tastier. Saturated fats are found in many meats in fast foods as well as in condiments like mayonnaise. Trans fats contain hydrogenated oil. They are added to fast foods in place of butter when cooking and frying because trans fats are cheaper in cost. The American Heart Association recommends getting less than 7 percent of your calories from saturated fats and less than 1 percent from trans fats.
Sodium
Fast foods often are high in sodium. High sodium diets can lead to high blood pressure and even heart attack. Salt is usually added to these foods to increase their taste and even added after the foods are cooked. The recommended amount of sodium is less than 1,500 mg a day, and just one fast food meal can reach this limit.
Calories
Most fast food items are double or triple the standard portion size. This means double or triple the amount of calories are being consumed, which leads to obesity. The website Keeping Kids Healthy explains that many children might order a burger with cheese containing 760 calories, a large fries with 610 calories and a large shake containing 1,140 calories. The total caloric intake for this one meal far exceeds how many calories should be consumed in one day. Obesity can result in heart attack, heart disease and other heart problems.
Sugar
Sugar intake from fast foods usually comes from beverages. It seems as though for a few cents you can increase your drink by nearly double the size. This promotes excessive caloric and sugar intake coming from fountain drinks that can lead to the weight gain that puts a greater demand on the heart. Sodas are high in sugar and high in calories that add up fast. An average large drink has more than 400 calories.
