Fast Food, its affects on people and what to do about it

About the Industry At least four million Americans work in the fast food industry, feeding about a quarter of the population from 300,000 restaurants each day. Fast food is big business; last year, the industry earned $178 billion.

Eating fast food Raise your blood pressure replacing fresh wholesome food with processed, additive laden food, you do the following things to your body: Raise your blood pressure Increase the levels of bad cholesterol delay your metabolic rate (the rate at which you digest, process and eliminate food) Weaken your immune system Destabilize your blood sugar levels Reduce the ability of your colon to function properly

Fast Food diet can lead to Obesity is a prevalent problem in the United States, and is believed to contribute to over 300,000 deaths each year in this country alone. It can lead to health problems as varied as diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks

What's in some of the fast food today? Researchers at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in San Francisco have demonstrated that a certain type of fat, called oxidized fat, can accelerate the buildup of plaque in arteries. And many types of fast food such as hamburgers, pizza and French fries are loaded with oxidized fat.

There is a McDonalds right next to Montclair! A study by the University of California at Berkeley (2009) determined that, for children at least, easy access to fast food outlets increased the risk of obesity. A fast food restaurant within a tenth of a mile of a school increased the risk of obesity in ninth graders by 5.2 percent. 

Our RDA compared to fast food nutriton facts recommended daily allowance or RDA RDA of average person should be 2,000 calories 48 grams of fat, and 1,330 mg of sodium Triple Baconator Meal from Wendy’s- 2,170 calories, 116 g fat, and 2,950 mg sodium, all of which exceed their RDAs

Alternatives to fast food and reducing intake. Reduce the number of times you eat fast food. If you currently eat fast food once a week, then make it your goal to go for two weeks before going back. The less the better Find other convenient alternatives for meals. Making sandwiches with sliced turkey breast and whole wheat bread with ready-made salad makes an easy meal that’s more nutritious than any value meal.

Still not convinced? Watch “Super Size Me” Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock eats only McDonald’s for thirty days straight. You’ll see what happens to his body in just one month. Check the nutritional facts on the menu items you order. What fast food place do you frequent most often? What do you usually get? Go online and look for "nutritional facts" on that restaurant’s website.

Fast food isn't good at all! In conclusion, Fast food is one of the biggest contributors to obesity. It can lead to many other heart problems and diseases It should be avoided but if it cant try to reduce visits.