-The American Diet of Fast Food
By: Jeffrey Traister

Jeffrey Traister has written about health, nutrition and medicine since 1985. His work appears in publications and websites of health-care companies and organizations. Traister has a Master of Business Administration in entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science in human nutrition and medicine from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Numerous restaurants, stores and vending machines sell ready-to-eat fast food that includes inexpensive, processed ingredients. Achieving nutritional balance with fast food is difficult, because you have no control over the ingredients or the way they are cooked. Consuming fast food can increase your risk for chronic diseases.

Types

Fast food restaurants generally sell hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, pizza, tacos, fried chicken, sodas and sweetened fruit-flavored drinks that are typically high in calories, saturated fat, sugar and salt. Fast foods in vending machines include corn and potato chips, candy and sweetened beverages. Research by Alisha Rovner, Ph.D., published in the "Journal of Adolescent Health" in 2011 reports that vending machines are widely available in public schools throughout the United States and that 83 percent of the schools sell fast food with minimal nutritional value, including chips, sweets and soft drinks. The research also found that fast foods in vending machines influence diet of children in lower grades.


Portion sizes of many fast foods are large and contain a high number of calories. Research by Samara Joy Nielsen, B.S., published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 2003 discovered that portion sizes for all types of fast foods except pizza increased between 1977 and 1998, resulting in increased consumption of calories. Fast food restaurants continue to serve large portion sizes, many that exceed those of 1998, according to Lisa Young, Ph.D., R.D., writing in the "Journal of Public Health Policy" in 2007. Many of these portion sizes far exceed the daily required intake for calories, sugar, salt and fat.

Significance

Consuming fast foods that are high in calories, sugar, salt and saturated and trans fats may increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Research by J. Maddock, Ph.D., published in the "American Journal of Health Promotion" in 2004 discovered that there is a correlation between prevalence of obesity and the number of state residents per number of fast food restaurants in each state and a correlation between prevalence of obesity and the number of fast food restaurants per square mile in each state throughout the United States. People who are overweight or are diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension or heart disease should avoid fast foods to prevent any risk of adverse complications.

Considerations

Reduce your health risks by choosing healthier options to fast foods. Consuming grilled foods instead of fried and eating more fresh fruits, vegetables and low-fat dressings with your meals can help you lower the number of calories and unhealthy fats and increase the amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Drinking spring water instead of soda or sweetened beverages will also help you to lower your calories. Eat more whole, unprocessed foods at home to make sure you get sufficient amounts of essential nutrients.


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/350464-the-american-diet-of-fast-food/#ixzz1n95ESbOT