Posted May 12, 2019 by Alyssa Diamant, RD, LD Clinical Dietitian Weight Management
It’s quick, fast, and cheap; it also tastes really good! Americans spend roughly $50 billion on fast food each year. With the availability of food “on-demand” more and more people are opting for prepared foods, whether through a drive thru or delivered to your door.
But have you ever felt not-so-great after eating fast food--maybe a little tired or bloated? Did you notice you became hungry again pretty soon after eating? That’s because although most fast food is high in calories, it is very low in nutrients & fiber. These processed meals also contribute large amounts of sugar, salt, and fat to the diet.
While the occasional meal will not severely impact your health, frequent trips through the drive thru can start to affect your body in some serious ways.
Elevated sodium levels can occur with frequent fast food consumption. Those salty, crispy fries may seem like a treat but eating too much salt over time is bad for your blood vessels and associated with increased risk of hypertension. If you have heart disease, cirrhosis, or chronic kidney disease, too much salt can lead to dangerous levels of fluid buildup. This water retention is why we can feel puffy or bloated after consuming fast food.
Your mental health may be impacted. Fast foods provide a lot of added sugar---soda, blizzards, sugar sweetened coffees, etc. The American Heart Association suggest six to nine teaspoons per day. Just one 12-ounce can of soda contains around eight teaspoons. If you consume high amounts of sugar on a regular basis, your body and brain continue to crave them, which can lead to an addictive-like cycle.
High intake of processed foods such as fast food & added sugars are associated with weight gain. Just one fast food meal can exceed your daily recommended caloric intake. If eating like this becomes a habit, weight gain and respiratory issues may result. Obesity can increase your risk of certain respiratory problems, including asthma and shortness of breath. One study found a link between excess fast food and asthma in children.
Your risk of heart disease and stroke can increase dramatically. Although trans fats (the most harmful form of fat found in fried foods, baked goods, & some shelf stable foods) are in the process of being removed from foods, fast food is also high in saturated fat. High intake of trans & saturated fats can increase your triglycerides, total, & LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. This can clog your arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease & stroke. Chronic poor diet choices & weight gain also raise your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
You could experience skin issues like acne, blemishes or eczema with a diet high in sugar and simple carbohydrates. If you regularly eat whole foods and high amounts of fruits and veggies, one greasy pizza will not cause the pimple you coincidentally see a few days later. However, if you routinely consume high levels of processed foods, you’ll see a spike in blood sugar. The body releases more insulin when this happens, which increases the production of skin cells, leading to clogged follicles.
It’s important to keep in mind that moderation is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Daily stressors and schedules don’t always allow for fresh, whole meals prepared at home. But if you struggle to make healthy eating habits a priority and it’s affecting your health, a registered dietitian can approach these lifestyle patterns through either medical nutrition therapy or nutrition education.
At Summa Health, Medical Nutrition Therapy involves registered dietitians treating medical conditions through the use of nutrition assessment and intervention techniques. This also includes patient education. The dietitian uses the patient’s medical and dietary history to develop an appropriate plan. The plan is reviewed with the patient, and the patient is monitored at regular intervals to determine progress made and the need for modifications to the plan.
