Is Fast Food Healthy?Emily Murray

Mrs. Pugh’s Second PeriodSeptember 1, 2011

Fast food is very popular because it is convenient, not expensive, easy to purchase, requires little or no preparation and is appetizing, but fast food is very unhealthy for you.

Thesis

Fast Food Effects on Health

♦risk for hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and many types of cancers.

♦Loaded with calories from refined sugar & fats; very addictive

♦Obesity & poor diet=increased risk for high blood pressure & clogged arteries & raised chance of getting arthritis, asthma, etc.

2003- accused of causing obesity;

“purposely misleads the public about the nutritional value of its product”

case dismissed; still brings unwanted media attention to the practices of the Fast Food Companies.

McDonald’s Sued

High palatability

Usually about 1,000 calories for one meal

Cooked with oil & butter

High glycemic index

Reasons to Restrict Fast Foods

Increase plaque buildup in arteries

Biggest source of trans fat

Lacks vitamins, minerals, and fiber

Nutrition Facts

Big Mac with fries & Coke has so many calories that it can take about 7 hrs to burn off

BK Tender Crisp Chicken Salad with Ceasor Dressing: 580 calories, 46 grams of fat, 1730 mg sodium

Statistics

One hamburger can contain meat from 100 diff cows

Nearly 50% drink dispensers are contaminated w/ fecal matter

Double cheeseburger has 141g of fat

Why You Should Avoid Fast Food

MSG, trans fat, sodium nitrate, BHA, BHT, propyl gallate, aspartame, Acesulfameolestra, potassium bromate, Blue 1 & 2, K, Red 3, Green 3 & Yellow 6

All linked to cancers & obesity

Dangerous Ingredients

Bowels get hit & get mixed in with meat; main source of E-coli out breaks

People get cut on machines; sometimes human meat mixed in with animal meat

The Processing Line

Everyday in US roughly 200,00 people sickened by food borne disease

900 hospitalized

14 die

Facts

According to CDC, more than a quarter of American population suffers from food poisoning each year.

In 1910, 30,00 fast food restaurants; 2001- increased to 222,00

More Facts

High amounts of salt & fat are major factors for risk of heart disease

In 2010, 36.9% of Americans had heart disease, American Heart Association says will climb to 40.5% by 2030

Why Fast Food Is Bad

Commissioned by National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute

People who ate fast food over 2 times each week gained 10 more pounds & had higher insulin resistance than those who ate less than one time per week

January 2004 Study

Discovered that combination of poor diet & lack of physical activity causes 310,00 to 580,00 deaths every year.

Numbers higher than deaths caused by guns or drug use.

US Dept of Health & Human Services

Body needs metabolic balance to function well; eating fast food will cause you to take in more calories than you can burn

Reduces energy level & raises risk for weight problems

Weight-related Health Problems

Cutting calories increases your nutritional profile; can prevent health problems down the road

Better mobility, breathing & fitness A longer and healthier life

Advantages of Not Eating Fast Foods

Obesity High blood pressure Clogged arteries Heart attacks Strokes Cancer Asthma

Effects of Fast Food

Not eating fast food for 6 months benefits health

If you eat fast food on occasion, find places that offer soups, salads & vegetables

Benefits of Eating Healthy

Avoiding the poor diet of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods allows you to cut calories & increase nutritional profile.

Giving up drive-thru meals, prevents health problems down the road

A Longer & Healthier Life