THE HEALTH RISKS OF FAST FOOD

Every day, we are bombarded by ads telling us about the latest deal or addition to the menu that fast food companies are offering us.  It's estimated that the fast food industry buries us in $4.2 Billion in annual advertising.  Compare that to the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion's annual budget of $6.5 Million, and it's easy to see why we're the fattest and least healthy nation on the planet.  That's 1/10th of a penny for every dollar spent by the fast food juggernauts.

You can't drive a block in any given town in America without seeing one of the logos above as a choice to fill our stomachs.  We've even exported our unhealthy way of life around the globe to see other country's health statistics moving in the wrong direction.  How about a late night "4th meal" to satisfy those cravings?  

Just what are the statistics that can be connected to our fast food addiction?  68.8% of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese.  It's involved in 5 of the top 10 contributing factors of death in America.  In adults 20 and older, more than 1 in every 10 people suffers from diabetes, and in seniors (65 and older), that figure rises to more than 1 in 4.  

How about children?  Today about 1 in 3 American kids and teens is overweight or obese, triple the rate in 1963.  It is estimated that 1 in 3 children born after the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes.  This epidemic could prove to be devastating if we don't address it soon.  

I strongly believe the main culprit in all of this is what is in the foods we eat, and today we'll tackle it head on.  There is a direct correlation to the number of times a family eats fast food, and  whether or not they become one of the statistics previously mentioned.  Unfortunately, most people have no idea what these companies put into their foods to attract their customers and keep them coming back by adding addictive substances.  This post will make it perfectly clear as to what is in them, and how it impacts the human body so that you can make an educated decision as to how often you'll want to eat there (if at all).  

If you are armed with a list of what's in all of the products offered by the top 4 fast food peddlers, and what these ingredients do when consumed, you'll be armed with the knowledge you need to avoid the health risks associated with them.  Let's start with links to the full ingredients lists of each of them:

McDonalds:  
http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/ingredientslist.pdf

Burger King:

http://www.bk.com/cms/en/us/cms_out/digital_assets/files/pages/MenuNutritionInformation.pdf  

Wendy's:  http://www.wendys.com/food/pdf/us/nutrition.pdf

Taco Bell:  http://www.tacobell.com/nutrition/ingredientstatement


When I look at the associated calories, fat and saturated fat grams, trans fats, sodium and sugar in some of these meals, I can feel my heart skip a beat!  Here's a list of some of the ingredients that you'll see over and over again in each of their menus, and what side effects that they can cause:

High Fructose Corn Syrup:  Some of the best known side effects associated with HFCS include, obesity, diabetes, tooth infection and decay, cholesterol increase, increased risk of heart attack, anemia, lowered immunity levels, fatigue, and mood swings and withdrawal.

Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil:  This is also known as trans fat.  These do not exist in nature.  Side effects include increased high blood pressure leading to heart disease, high cholesterol, increased risk of cancer, and fatigue.  Putting this  additive into their products prevents them from spoiling over long periods of time.  Check out this picture below of what a McDonald's hamburger and fries looks like after laying out for 171 days.  If a food never goes bad, it shouldn't go into our bodies!  Coincidentally, if you put this "meal" in front of most pets, they won't eat it.  In some ways, they are smarter than us. 

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG):  Food manufacturers hide this destructive ingredient under alternative names such as Glutamic acid (E 620), Glutamate (E 620), Monopotassium glutamate (E 622), Calcium glutamate (E 623), Monoammonium glutamate (E 624), Magnesium glutamate (E 625), Natrium glutamate, Yeast extract, Anything “hydrolyzed”, Any “hydrolyzed protein”, Calcium caseinate,  Sodium caseinate
Yeast food, Yeast nutrient, Autolyzed yeast, Gelatin, Textured protein, Soy protein, soy protein concentrate, Soy protein isolate, Whey protein, whey protein concentrate, Whey protein isolate.  MSG is a processed food additive.  MSG is an extremely dangerous neurotoxin (excitotoxin) that shrivels and kills brain cells in the hypothalamus and has been linked to weight gain, migraines, seizures, ADD/ADHD, heart palpitations, tremors, and MANY other symptoms that can even be fatal.    

Azodicarbonamide:  This little beauty is so destructive to the human body that it's banned in Europe and Australia, and putting it into any food products in Singapore will land you with a 15 year jail term and a fine of $450,000!  It's essentially a chemical whose primary use is  “in the production of foamed plastics.” In the United States it is also used as a food additive and flour bleaching agent.  You'll notice this in the buns for the burgers and sandwiches at each of the three burger chains listed.  If you ever buy one of the burgers from these restaurants, you'll notice how spongy the buns feel if you squeeze them.  That's because this ingredient is also used to manufacture the soles of shoes! (I'm not making this stuff up).  I was upset to learn that even Subway uses this to make their breads.


Sodium Benzoate:  This preservative that is used to prevent food from molding has been shown to deprive bodily cells of much needed oxygen, and break down the immune system.  When combined with both vitamin C and vitamin E it produces benzene, which is a known carcinogen or cancer causer.  

TBHQ:  Tertiary Butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ as it is more commonly referred to as, is in fact a chemical preservative which is a form of butane.  Consuming high doses (between 1 and 4 grams) of TBHQ can cause nausea, delirium, collapse, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and vomiting.  There are also suggestions that it may lead to hyperactivity in children as well as asthma, rhinitis and dermatitis. It may also further aggravate ADHD symptoms and cause restlessness. Long term, high doses of TBHQ in laboratory animals have shown a tendency for them to develop cancerous precursors in their stomachs, as well as cause DNA damage to them. It is also suggested that it may be responsible for affecting estrogen levels in women.

BHA and BHT:  Preservatives used mainly to keep oils from going rancid and food from changing color or flavor.  According to the National Toxicology Program, both can be "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen", which means they can possibly cause cancer.  They also cause increased liver weight, abnormal cell behavior, allergies, effect the brain and alter behavior.

Dimethylpolysiloxane:  a silicone based agent used as an anti-foaming, anti-caking agent and emulsifier in processed foods.  It's also found in silly puddy and cosmetics.  

I can keep going with this, but I think you get the picture.  The fast food industry adds these things to prolong shelf life, improve flavor, and cut costs associated with using fresh or higher quality ingredients, and they are not healthy to eat on a regular basis.  

The sad thing is that other countries have caught on to these ingredients in fast food being a problem and have banned them from being used.  Check out the difference in McDonald's fries between the United States and the U.K.:

Seeing how differently we're treated by these fast food chains when compared with other countries is just another example of how the FDA is asleep at the wheel and has no intentions on looking out for our best interests.  

Now I'll be the first to admit that some of the things being offered by fast food restaurants used to actually appealed to me.  But that's by design!  I used to occasionally eat them until I learned what's in them and how they make me feel after I eat them.  These chains add all of these ingredients to appeal to us and actually get us addicted to them much like a drug. 

If you are a regular fast food user, I'd like you to take a challenge.  For one whole week, replace your normal fast food with a healthy choice like a salad, or something healthy that you prepare at home beforehand.  I guarantee that you will feel better, have more energy and lose weight.  On the contrary, if you go back to your normal fast food habit after doing this, you'll see fatigue and weight gain come right back.  It's all in the ingredients!

If you decide to take your family out for fast food, please make sure that it is only occasionally.  The best decision is to pass on them all together and opt for food that actually provides some nutritional value.  If I or someone in my family needs to get something on the run, we'll look for a Panera Bread, or a Chipotle.  My son Kyle also loves Red Mango which is a healthy yogurt shop with all natural ingredients.  We like to opt for something that offers food products that are hormone and antibiotic free without all of the empty calories and additives and preservatives that you'll find in the average fast food restaurant.  

Until Americans wake up to the harmful side effects of eating fast food in this country, the industry will continue to include these harmful ingredients, and our nation's health and weight epidemics will continue to worsen.  Let's commit to improving the health of our families and vote with our wallets to bring about change!  Hopefully by doing so, we'll continue to see more of the new "fast food" restaurants like the one's just mentioned that offer healthier options for us all. 

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