Fast food bars have become a permanent element of the culinary image of Polish cities. From time to time, almost every one of us comes to such a shrine to satisfy our hunger as soon as possible. And if it happens sporadically, there is no point in raising the larum immediately. It’s different when eating fast food becomes a habit. And since such food is readily available and cheap, this can happen very quickly.
For many years there has been much talk about this diet’s dangers. Despite this, fast food still has fans who prefer to have a huge hamburger or fries with nuggets for lunch instead of eating healthy. Why You Shouldn’t Eat Unhealthy Foods Here are nine arguments from different fields. I don’t specifically focus only on the consequences of eating unhealthy foods on our health.
Harsh conditions for animals
You have probably seen footage showing the conditions where animals are stored for slaughter. Many of them are forced to stay in rooms so small that they can hardly move. And even if your conscience is not moving now, you should know that these conditions do not affect the quality of the meat that will arise. Animals suffer from osteoporosis and joint pain, and their bodies constantly release cortisol, a stress hormone, which is present in our food. In any case, this is not the only hormone found in fast food meat. As you know, feed for slaughtered animals is often saturated with other hormones and antibiotics. The latter should protect them from disease and, therefore, from falling.
Strange Ingredients
Do you know what it is? I doubt it. Chicken wings, available at several fast food bars, contain a chemical preservative called tert-butylhydroquinone, which comes from – beware, beware – crude oil! Yes, the same one you use to power your car. In addition, most of the meat from which the dishes will be cooked is mechanically separated, which means that your food receives the so-called fatty meat mass with cartilage residue, which is then squeezed. Mom’s meat has more fat and less protein. That’s not all, of course. Such meals are packaged with chemical preservatives, artificial colors, monosodium glutamate, etc.
Poor food quality
You don’t need to be an expert to say that most fast food chains don’t use the highest quality ingredients but instead the cheapest. When you eat a hamburger, you probably don’t make it out. So you can’t see if the salad is fresh or dry. When it comes to meat, you are not sure which part of the cow you are currently eating. More: Do you eat cow meat at all? If you’re feeling like a hamburger, spend a few more zlotys, buy meat from a trusted store, vegetables from a market stall, and make a healthier version of this dish at home.
Food Safety
Unfortunately, many people who prepare and serve food in cheap bars do not have the necessary food safety training. Of course, this is not their fault, because some companies, cutting costs, do not offer them to their employees. You’re not sure if the person who made your hamburger a moment earlier – without washing their hands – didn’t accidentally fix their hair. In extreme cases, people working in bars don’t even have health books.
The conditions for preparing fast food are not named without reason. Most dishes here are prepared, so they quickly reach your hands. Ready ingredients – or whole, pre-cooked meals – are quickly heated in the microwave. It is unlikely that it will be cleaned after each such heating. As a rule, there is simply no time for this. The oil in the deep fryer is also not changed as often as if you were doing it at home. The conditions under which food is cooked, stored, and served can leave much to be desired.
Trans fats
Trans fats have been high in the media for some time, so you’ve probably heard of them. I remind you: they affect the increase in LDL levels, i.e., bad cholesterol, and therefore contribute to heart attacks and cardiac arrest. Foods rich in these sinister fats are chips, fried fish fillets, or fried chicken sandwiches.
Threat to the environment
Large-scale meat production increases greenhouse gas emissions such as methane or carbon dioxide. According to American scientists, beef production contributes to global warming, which we want to fight. Therefore, not only are cows destined for slaughter, but polar bears die because of fast food.
High in fat and sugar
The preferred method of cooking fast food is deep frying. It is worth emphasizing that even a seemingly healthy diet is a real calorie bomb. Did you know that a crispy chicken salad has over 18 grams fat? Add the sauce, and you already have 36 grams. The coating absorbs grease like a sponge. Desserts are no better because they are full of sweeteners (such as glucose-fructose syrup) that contribute to obesity. It should also be remembered that when frying meat loses many of its positive properties. Eating frequently at fast food restaurants is the shortest way to get the look of a Michelin man.
Obesity in children
Adults are responsible for their health and can blame themselves for being obese by eating at fast food bars. In the case of children, things are different. Parents take them to this type of restaurant and develop unhealthy habits. According to a study by American scientists, children who regularly eat fast food weigh about 3 kg more than their peers who eat occasionally or do not eat at all in such bars. Many fast food restaurants have been ordered to add apples and milk.
Brief Summary
| Harsh conditions for animals | You have probably seen footage more than once showing the conditions in which animals are stored for slaughter. |
| Strange Ingredients | Do you know what is? I doubt it. |
| Poor food quality | You don’t need to be an expert to say that most fast food chains don’t use the highest quality ingredients and instead use the cheapest. |
| Food Safety | Unfortunately, many of the people who prepare and serve food in cheap bars do not have the necessary food safety training. |
| Trans fats | Trans fats have been high in the media for some time, so you’ve probably heard of them. |
| Threat to the environment | Large-scale meat production increases greenhouse gas emissions such as methane or carbon dioxide. |
| High in fat and sugar | The preferred method of cooking in fast food is deep frying. |
| Obesity in children | Adults are responsible for their own health and can blame themselves for being obese by eating at fast food bars. |
