Last updated on August 11th, 2023
Who doesn’t love to munch on a packet of potato chips? Or open a can of soda while having a meal? The greasy packet of fast food brings happiness for a short while but leads to disturbing health problems in the long run. Several studies have shown that the consumption of fast foods is associated with obesity in adults and children. There are some shocking and disturbing fast food facts you need to know about before consuming your favourite potato fries or any fast food.
You know that fast food can make you unhealthy by causing obesity, but you may not have known the other harmful effects of fast food on your health. Read this article to know these fast food facts and learn how fast food causes health problems and ruins your fitness efforts.
Fast food fact #1
Heaps of salt
Most fast foods have a crazy amount of salt in them hence intake of fast food leads to an increase of sodium in your body. This can lead to many medical problems varying from high blood pressure to obesity (1). So, the next time you binge-watch your favourite series with packets of popcorn supporting your appetite the whole time, think twice about the health problems you may get from eating fast food.
And if you are already addicted to junk food, you should start doubling your fitness efforts before you completely change your diet routine. You can start exercise as it helps flush out the toxins from your body. Plus, bust your myths and follow only the advice that is supported by only experts.
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Fast food fact #2
Calories that we don’t count
All the fast foods are high in their calorie content. High calories in fast food are accompanied by low nutritional content. Too much, your body will start to lack the necessary nutrients for its proper functioning (2), (3). You may feel full for some time, but hunger will be back soon. Source-eatthis.com.
So, if you are trying to lose weight, and finding it hard to change your diet, remember this fact. Fast food not only ruins your weight loss efforts but also makes you vulnerable to deadly diseases.
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Fast food fact #3
High fructose content
Using HFS in fast foods is one of the most disturbing fast food facts about obesity. To give fast-food drinks a light, disgusting sweetness, many fast-food chains add high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to carbonated drinks, a highly-processed substance that can replace sugar.
High levels of HFCS can give your tongue a sweet taste, but they also tear off the enamel from your teeth, lengthen the stomach wall and attack your vital organs (4). Oddly, a bite from the sugar bowl may be healthier for you.
You can see now the harmful effects of fast foods on your health. Now, you must be thinking of what to eat instead which is both healthy and tasty. Well, you can find healthier alternatives! To know, go through these articles,
Fast food fact #4
High trans fats
Another fact about obesity and fast food is it has loaded with high-trans fats. People often ask if fast food is bad. There is no such thing as “bad” food, but there are some foods you should avoid eating from time to time.
Because sodium, saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol are high in fast foods, one must avoid too much fast food. Eating too much for a long time can cause problems such as increased blood pressure, heart disease, and unwanted weight gain (5). Source-youngwomenhealth.org.
You should always refrain from eating high-trans fats. If you have been a fast-food lover, you must have stored up those bad calories in your body. In that case, these articles might help you,
- Are you choosing the right weight-loss strategies?
- Can you lose weight by doing yoga?
- Does running exercise help if you are trying to lose weight?
- Treadmill vs cycling: Which is more effective for reducing belly fat & overall weight loss
Fast food fact #5
Quality of Ingredients
You may be aware of the common fast food facts but this one is going to shock you completely. The ingredients like vegetables used in making food prepared by fast-food chains are contaminated with pesticides and lack many vitamins and minerals (6). Their quality is as poor as nothing else. Eating them is like inviting many deadly diseases to develop in your body. You will never know which part of that junk food the patties come from, even if you are eating chicken!
In short, everything from vegetables and cheese to chicken is processed and adulterated. Burgers are rich in saturated fats and cholesterol in your diet. They increase the amount of cholesterol in your body and make you vulnerable to heart disease—source-The Times of India.
These are the ugly fast food nutrition facts. It’s high time you change your diet and start adding more nutrition to your diet.
- Drink cinnamon tea – a herb full of nutrition
- 12 High-Protein Foods You can Take While on a Protein-Based Diet
Fast food fact #6
Hygiene practices
Nothing could be more disgusting than knowing these types of fast food facts revealed through this study. A 2010 study published in the International Journal of Microbiology found that 48% of the soda fountain machines in fast-food restaurants contain coliforms, a type of bacteria commonly found in stool. Eleven per cent of these machines also contain E. coli.
So, the next time you decide to order fountain cola, rethink this fact proven by Science!
Fast food fact #7
“Premium” Products you might not want to eat
People often think that choosing an egg sandwich might be a healthier option, but it turns out that those breakfast sandwiches contain more than just eggs. Most of the “eggs” used in these dishes are a combination of real eggs and “premium egg mixtures”. These “premium egg mixtures” actually contain substances such as glycerin, solvents in soaps, moisturizers and shaving creams, as suggested by a study conducted by Forbes.
Fast food fact #8
Fake flavours
Most people prefer ordering a milkshake or say a cold coffee when they go out for a meal. If you think, ordering a milkshake is an innocent option, then you are wrong. Artificial flavours contain a large number of chemicals, all of which are mixed with a variety of preservatives and other unhealthy additives (such as high fructose corn syrup) suggest a study conducted by the Guardian.
Fast food can be harmful to your health in several ways of which you can’t think of!
Fast food fact #9
Effect on mental health
A study published in Science Daily showed that people who eat fast food are 51% more likely to develop depression than people who don’t. You may not even realize that consuming fast food will lead to deteriorating your mental health big time.
Most people who eat too much fast food not only become obese but become vulnerable to inadequate health!
Fast food fact #10
Deceitful mind play
Ordering a salad at a fast-food restaurant is a bit like smoking an e-cigarette in a cigar bar. Of course, you will stay healthy and make choices for your health, but your environment is rapidly producing harmful substances, and no matter how you look at it, you will continue to move worse than before.
Shockingly, many typical fast-food salads are full of saturated fat and sodium, and in some cases, it’s worse for your health than a good old Big Mac burger. Don’t get deceived by the “salads” category on the menu of the restaurants. It is better if you make your salad and consume it.
Wrapping Up on Fast Food Facts
These are 10 shocking fast food facts you must know about. It is said that health must be our priority. Avoid fast food as much as you can. It is ok to have a meal out once or twice a month but making it a habit is not good for our health.
We understand that by now, you can already imagine the heap of junk that you have been consuming all this while. Detoxing the body becomes even more important because detoxification helps your immune system works properly again. If you need help detoxifying your body, read the article given below:
You can try making much healthier snacks using Philips Air Fryer. However, healthy snacks can also be prepared in a good quality convection microwave oven.
If you don’t have time, you can try them at weekends.
Suggested reviews:
- Suggested List of Air Fryers in India (Reviews & Buying Guide)
- Best Water Purifier in India for Home (Top 10 RO Water Purifiers)
- Top 10 Best Air Purifiers in India for Home
If you liked the article, share it with someone you care about and help them stay healthy and in shape!
Hope more people will be inspired to restrict fast food intake.
Hope so! Fast food causes health problems more than we can imagine.
Great pointers Srishti. The world needs such reminders more frequently. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Navita 🙂
Very detailed post-Sristi! I personally do follow the habit of eating healthy because packaged food and fast foods generally contain lots of chemicals.
Yes Deepika, fast foods are very harmful to health. We all need to reduce the intake of fast foods.
We all know it but still love to have Lays and Kurkure and all. Thanks for the reminder Srishti. 🙂
🙂
A very informative post about fast food. I am in a constant tussle with my kids because they always want to have chips and I have my foot put down to not lt them have it.
True that Anupriya! It is a real struggle. It becomes difficult to always find healthy & tasty snacks. What we can do is cook homemade chips and serve with different flavours.
Fast food may look tempting, may seems an easy fix but its not healthy. And now, with all of us cooking at home, I think our kids must have gotten a good idea by now that what they eat outside can be easily cooked at home in a much healthy manner. We don’t need McDonalds French fries all the time, they can be easily made at home.
You got me Alpna. The same thing I repeat, there is absolutely no need to get fast food from outside. It can easily be cooked at home. It’s high time we should make our kids to give up on these unhealthy fast foods.
There are many people out there who still are not aware of these eye-opening facts about fast-food. Thanks for sharing.
🙂
I love the fact that your posts are always well researched and so much in detail. Fast food is indeed a source of a lot of health issues. But that does not stop people from gorging on them.
True! That doesn’t stop people from gorging on them, because they ignore the facts. That’s why we need to feed more our minds with these facts over and again:)
Thanks for the detailed facts. It’s time to follow these at least now.
Seriously!