Nutritional Disadvantages Of Fast Food

If you frequently eat at fast-food restaurants, you might not notice the nutritional disadvantages right away. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, weight gain and cardiovascular decline occur gradually, over time. By the time you develop health symptoms, it might be too late to correct them. Diet-related diseases such as diabetes and cancer can't be cured. Some illnesses, such as high blood pressure and clogged arteries, don't present symptoms until conditions escalate to cause heart attacks and other complications. Learn the risks so you can control your fast-food consumption.

Low Fiber

Fast-food menus are big on protein, fat, sodium and sugar, which displace many of the beneficial nutrients that you need for health every day, including fiber. Dietary fiber is found in fruits, vegetables and grains, with only small amounts retained in refined grains, or white rice and white flour. Burgers, sandwiches, and breading for fried food incorporate refined white flour buns, rolls and bread crumbs. French-fried potatoes provide adequate fiber but too much fat and sodium. Common vegetable ingredients such as tomatoes and onions represent the low end of the fiber scale. Low fiber intake is linked with greater incidence of cancer, heart disease and constipation.

High Fat, Sugar and Calories

A fast-food study completed in 2005 reported weight gain up to 10 pounds and increased insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, in adolescents over a 15-year period. These results published in "The Lancet" occurred in individuals who ate fast foods two times a week or more. The high calories from fat and sugar, two nutrients with large ratios in foods such as cheeseburgers, tacos, carbonated sodas and milkshakes, steadily add up to raise your risk for obesity, diabetes and clogged arteries over time.

High Salt

Most, if not all, fast foods contain salt, the main source of dietary sodium. High sodium intake causes high blood pressure over time, a condition often called the "silent killer" due to its lack of mild symptoms previous to heart attacks and strokes. Tacos, fried entrees, hamburgers, sub and breakfast sandwiches all have extremely large amounts of sodium, which raise your blood pressure. You'll find sodium even in sodas, ice cream cones and fried pies. Long-term consumption of high-sodium foods can make high blood pressure chronic, raising your risk for heart disease.

Significance

Nutritional imbalance and weight gain from eating fast food affect your long-term health. Carrying excess weight raises your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, cancer and many other serious health problems. Overweight conditions, arterial blockage from saturated and trans fats, high blood pressure and low fiber intake all increase your risk of premature death.