What Are the Dangers of Eating Fast Foods?

A CBS poll revealed that nearly a quarter of Americans eat fast food at least once a week. While fast food is not harmful in moderation, it can pose a variety of dangers when consumed regularly. They range from problems caused by the fat and salt content of the food itself to the conditions under which it is prepared and stored and the overall lack of healthy fast food options. By knowing the dangers, you can enjoy fast food responsibly while minimizing its negative impact on you.

Menu

• According to the Slow Food Revolution website, most fast food restaurants don't offer many healthy options. People who choose fast food for its convenience or price have little choice but to select something unhealthy. Most of the foods are high in calories and contain large amounts of fat or sugar. Even the salads often have high calorie toppings and dressings, and healthier foods like baked potatoes come with toppings like sour cream, cheese and bacon. Even fruit is often served with a sugary topping like caramel.

Fat

• The hydrogenated cooking oil used at many fast food restaurants is made to have a long shelf life. This also makes it unhealthy because it is full of trans fats which the body will store immediately as fat. Even fast foods that don't contain trans fats often have an excessively high level of regular fats that can be unhealthy when eaten in excess. Consuming too much fat can cause health problems such as heart disease and stroke.

Salt Content

• Many fast food restaurants serve foods with a high salt content. According to a lobby group called Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH), one Pizza Hut meal had more than four times the amount of salt recommended for a 6-year-old child's entire daily intake. This finding was backed up by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which found that many Americans of all ages eat more than four times the recommended daily intake of salt in one fast food meal. Health Canada estimates that lowering salt intake to recommended levels could reduce the incidence of strokes by up to 30 percent.

Sanitation

• The high volume processing of meat used in fast food products increasing the chances of contamination. Slow Food Revolution says that many slaughterhouse workers do not have the proper training to handle the meat in a sanitary manner.

  Fast food restaurants themselves may also have sanitation problems. There tends to be a high worker turnover, so untrained or uncaring workers may not wear proper protective clothing, wash frequently or keep food at the proper temperature.

Obesity

• The Annals of Internal Medicine says that up to two-thirds of Americans are currently overweight, and a diet heavy in fast foods is quickly increasing those numbers. The study indicated that soon nine out of 10 men and seven out of 10 women will be carrying extra pounds. Newsweek says that many fast food restaurants are catering to big appetites with larger, more unhealthy sandwiches and other menu options.