While most American diets are already too high in fat, cholesterol, salt and sugar, one restaurant source is notorious for selling foods with high levels of all of these "risky" nutrients. Fast foods use sugar and salt as flavor enhancers for sandwiches, sides, drinks and desserts whose individual ingredients may already have high sugar and sodium content. Fat and cholesterol from meat dishes and fried entrees often exceed daily intake limits. If you eat these unhealthy foods often, you may suffer serious short-term and long-term consequences in the quality of your life.
Considerations
While many fast foods do contain beneficial vitamins and minerals, their nutritional value is compromised by their ratio of risky nutrients. The calories from fat content in unhealthy foods leave less room in your daily diet for beneficial nutrients from varied sources. You could become malnourished and gain weight at the same time. Eating more than one high-fat meal per day can easily push you over your healthy calorie limit.
Identification
High-fat (13 g or more per serving) fast foods include: hamburgers (with condiments and veggies), hot dogs, fried clams, fried chicken, French fries, fish sandwiches (with tartar sauce and cheese), sub sandwiches (6-inch roll, with cold cuts), beef chimichangas and taco salads. Every one of these items is high in salt (480 mg or more per serving)---except for, surprisingly, fries. French toast, apple pies, ice cream and shakes are high in sugar and fat. Carbonated drinks are even sweeter, containing more sugar than a candy bar.
Features
Unhealthy foods that are high in fat are usually high in dietary cholesterol. Some foods that seem like healthy choices, such as fish and salads, are still high in fat and/or salt. Sub sandwiches made with lower-calorie turkey cold cuts are very high in salt, providing two-thirds of your entire daily sodium allowance. If you add high-fat condiments, such as mayo or ranch dressing, you lose any low-calorie benefit. Ditto if you super-size.
Effects
Overloading on certain nutrients can throw your metabolism into imbalance. Nutrient deficiencies can cause eye, bone and nervous-system disorders. Overloading on salty fast foods can raise your blood pressure. Overloading on fat and sugar causes weight gain.
Significance
A steady diet of unhealthy foods may result in obesity, which raises your risk for many chronic health problems. Diseases associated with diets that are high in fat, sugar and salt include: type 2 diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis and a range of heart conditions. Once they've developed, most of these ailments are not reversible---but your eating habits are.
Member Comments