by Christine Veloira // Staff Writer
Relatively speaking, Americans have been known to suffer from obesity, diabetes, and other health issues. However, this comes as no surprise being that many obtain their food from undesirable fast food restaurants. It is not an unknown fact that a large majority of fast food chains use unhealthy products and ingredients, causing foods to have an overly high percentage of fat, calories, and sodium levels eventually leading to elevated cholesterol and blood pressure much above the appropriate levels.
Even America’s most popular such as McDonald’s and Dominos, are terribly unhealthy and bad when ingested regularly. Despite its favorable taste, these foods cause undesirable health effects, even if eaten gradually over time. Most fast food restaurants care solely about revenue and not their consumer’s health.
With excessive fat percentages comes an increase in possible heart disease and obesity. Whereas 20-30% fat is considerably acceptable, a vast range of fast food chains have percentages of 36% and usually much higher. Sodium levels are also considerably high at 300-2000mg of sodium per meal, causing a rise in blood pressure, risk of hypertension, strokes, and even Alzheimer’s. These restaurants may also contain an excessive number of calories, generally ranging from 900-1200 per meal, and promote the consumption of processed, refined carbohydrates.
The end result? Obesity and weight gain come along with it. Increasingly, the use of these carbohydrates, such as white bread, french fries, and donuts, which are low in fiber, promote the heightening of blood sugars, pre-diabetes, and eventually Type-2 diabetes.
Food is essential to life, but regularly eating these unhealthy foods contributes to a pushing many nearer to death. At what cost will Americans neglect the inevitable consequences of these inexpensive but unhealthy fast food restaurants and all for its favorable taste? Obesity, heart attacks, strokes, and Alzheimer’s disease – until when will America allow delicious food to eventually turn deadly and decrease their quality of life? Is the price of a fat, greasy burger worth more than a lifetime of memories with a healthy body? If so, then perhaps Americans are doomed of the evil health problems these fast food restaurants come with.
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