Fast Food

Fast-food might seem very delicious and convenient when you decide to grab a bite while in a hurry but it can harm your health in the long run. Read on to find out more...

In a fast-paced life with busy schedules and almost not time to spare, it is but obvious that we are paying little attention to the pre-requisites of a healthy life – one of which is hygienic nutritious food. Burgers, pizza, fried stuff with cheese, French fries, donuts, and all such food items that can be prepared and served quickly are termed as fast-food and have a large group of consumers from all age groups. Fast food is basically on-the-go food, quickly made, and served within minutes for the people who lead fast-paced lives. Fast food joints and kiosks easy spots for people to either have their fast food or just get their take-away meals while on their way to work or college.

Types of Fast Food

Burgers and sandwiches perhaps the most popular fast food items that might have attained popularity with the big-names but are now available at every nook and corner and every eatery or every single food joint. Burgers with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian patties are available however since most of the burgers available use deep fried patties, try and look for healthier options like burgers with grilled patties and lots of greens as well. Use of ketchup, mayonnaise, excess butter, fat, should be avoided due to the excessive amount of fat or sodium in some cases. Hot dogs are another popular fast food item available easily at negligible prices. Cold drinks and soda that often accompany these fast food items also belong to the same category.

Even salads are a part of fast food but what matters are the ingredients of the salad and the dressing that has to be picked out wisely. Do not choose salad dressings with too much butter, oil, mayonnaise, cheese, yogurt or any other fatty substances. If you are using ingredients like fried chicken in the salad obviously it will not be as healthy as the green salads with grilled or roasted portions of chicken. Tacos, nachos, and vegetarian and non-vegetarian wraps are also some of the popular fast foods, which are very popular with the fast food generation.

Another category in the fast food section is the Chinese fast food, which includes an assortment of noodles, manchurians, momos, rice, and crispy fried nuggets that are sold either at proper food joints or even roadside kiosks. India also has its share of fast food with samosa, vada pav, parathas, and various types of chat. Most of the fast food items sold anywhere in the world have the same issues – lack or a relatively lower percentage of essential nutrients and presence of excessive fats.

Fast Food and Health Concerns

Most of these quick and convenient meals contain high amount of sodium, which increases and aggravates the risks of high blood pressure. Excessive use of fat, butter, in cooking, increases saturated fat intake as well as the calorie intake. Regular and excessive consumption of fast food often results in obesity, which is one of the gripping problems for children as well as adults. Obesity can also lead to other complications like increase in the cholesterol level, blocking of the arteries, the increased risk of coronary diseases, and physical discomfort. Fast food is not considered a healthy option, which is why you can hear all the doctors and dietitians advising people to eliminate or reduce the consumption of fast food in diets.

Fast food and its ill effects on health are plenty. Be it obesity, diabetes, heart problems or any other chronic disorders, it is now a well known fact that regular consumption of fast food can have serious ill effects on a person’s health. Due to the increasing awareness about the risks of fast food, more and more people are either trying to avoid the consumption of fast food or looking for healthier alternatives and modifications to it - which is one of the reasons why you see most of the fast food joints themselves coming up with a variety of non-fat or low fat foods to cater to the needs of the population of health conscious people who want to avoid fast food.

Ways to Avoid the Risks of Fast-Food

Eating fast food might have become a habit for many of us but considering the risks of eating fast -food, it is time that people try and looking for healthier options to fast food. The first and most important step that you can take is reduce the intake of fast food. If you have the habit to have fast food everyday, make it a weekly event and slowly reduce the consumption of fast food. Everytime you feel the urge to have fast food, remind yourself of the bad effects it can have on your health. In case you just cannot help visiting the fast food joint, pick out healthy salads, and other food items which will minimize if not eliminate the risks. Consume food that has been cooked using healthy cooking methods like grilling or roasting instead of deep frying. Try and avoid soda or other soft drinks and instead consume fresh fruit juices and smoothies.