About benefits and health risks of fast food

1. Fast food :
benefits and
health risks
Papuc Diana
Voiculet
Patricia
Group 8216

2. What means `fast-food’?
Fast food is a mass-produced food that is
prepared and served very quickly. The food is
typically less nutritionally valuable compared to
other foods and dishes.
Fast food began with the first fish and
chip shops in Britain in the 1860s. Drive-
through restaurants were first popularized in
the 1950s in the United States.

3. Fast food is an affordable and convenient way to fill yourself
up when on the run. Although you shouldn't feel guilty for an
occasional indulgence, regularly eating fast food can
seriously damage your health. Coupled with low nutritional
value, the high fat, calorie and sodium content of these foods
can lead to a variety of health problems. With statistical
associations to weight gain, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular
conditions and all-cause mortality, regularly eating fast food
can be a dangerous thing.
Fast food risks
Weight gain and Obesity
A typical fast food meal is extremely high in fat and
calories. Weight gain occurs when you consume more
calories than you burn in a day. In a 2004 study
published in "The Lancet," researchers found that eating
more than twice per week at fast food restaurants is
linked to significantly more weight gain over time than
occasional visits. Similarly, researchers at the University
of California, Berkeley in 2009 noted that living near a
fast food restaurant is linked to a 5.2 percent greater risk
of obesity.

4. Cardiovascular Conditions
Higher densities of fast food restaurants are linked to a greater risk of
cardiovascular health problems. In a 2005 study published in the
"Canadian Journal of Public Health," researchers at the Institute for
Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Ontario, Canada found that regions
with high concentrations of fast food restaurants are 2.62 times
more likely to have extremely high levels of hospitalization for
coronary problems.
Sugar and fat
Many fast-food meals have added sugar. Not only does that mean extra calories, but also
little nutrition.The American Heart Association suggestsonly eating 100 to 150 calories of
added sugar per day. That’s about six to nine teaspoons. Many fast-food drinks alone hold
well over 12 ounces. A 12-ounce can of soda contains 8 teaspoons of sugar. That equals
130 calories, 39 grams of sugar, and nothing else.Trans fat is manufactured fat created
during food processing. It’s commonly found in:fried pies,pastries,pizza dough,crackers
,cookies
No amount of trans fat is good or healthy.

5. Sodium
The combination of fat, sugar, and lots of sodium (salt) can make fast
food tastier to some people. But diets high in sodium can lead
to water retention, which is why you may feel puffy, bloated, or
swollen after eating fast food.
A diet high in sodium is also dangerous for people with blood
pressure conditions. Sodium can elevate blood pressure and put
stress on your heart and cardiovascular system.

6. Central nervous system
Fast food may satisfy hunger in the short term, but long-term
results are less positive. People who eat fast food and
processed pastries are 51 percent more likely to
develop depression than people who don’t eat those foods
or eat very few of them.
Integumentary system (skin, hair, nails)
The foods you eat may impact your skin’s appearance, but it might
not be the foods you suspect. In the past, chocolate and greasy
foods like pizza have taken the blame for acnebreakouts, but
according to the Mayo Clinic, it’s carbohydrates. Carb-rich foods
lead to blood sugar spikes, and these sudden jumps in blood
sugar levels may trigger acne.

7. Effects on society
Today, more than 2 in 3 adults are considered overweight
or obese. More than one-third of children ages 6 to 19 are
also considered overweight or obese. The growth of fast
food in America seems to coincide with the growth of
obesity in the United States. The Obesity Action
Coalition (OAC) reports that the number of fast food
restaurants in America has doubled since 1970. The
number of obese Americans has also doubled.Despite
efforts to raise awareness and make Americans smarter
consumers, one study found that the amount of calories,
fat, and sodium in fast-food meals remains largely
unchanged. As Americans get busier and eat out more
frequently, it could have adverse effects for the individual
and America’s healthcare system.

8. Fast Foods Are Convenient
It seems like you can find fast food restaurants on nearly every street corner,
and going to a drive-through or using home-delivery makes going to a fast
food restaurant appealing. Fast food restaurants enable you to consume
ready-to-eat, fresh, portion-controlled foods. If you want to eat healthy food
but don't want to prepare it at home, you can order something healthy from a
fast food restaurant. This could include oatmeal made with milk or a salad
that has a variety of greens, vegetables, nuts and grilled chicken. Although
fast food is convenient, be wary of purchasing unhealthy foods, such as fried
chicken and pizza, simply because they are available and are appealing.
Many people who eat fast food tend to
have higher fat intakes and poorer diets.
Fast food does have some benefits,
however, and you can consume fast food
occasionally as part of a healthy diet.

9.  Fast Food Restaurants Offer Various Choices
A wide assortment of fast food styles lets you experience foods from
various cultures so that you don't need to spend exorbitant amounts of
money at full-service restaurants. Fast food restaurants that offer
burgers, chicken and sandwiches are plentiful, but fast-food restaurants
that offer Chinese, Italian, Mexican and Middle Eastern dishes also are
plentiful. Even though many of these international offerings may be
fairly healthy, they also may be high in calories and unhealthy nutrients.
Fast Food Restaurants Cost Less
The low cost of a fast food meal compared to a meal at a
sit-down restaurant can help you stay within your budget. Home
cooking, though, enables you to serve healthier, less expensive
meals. If you want to eat healthy foods on a budget, purchase foods
such as tuna, peanut butter, dried beans, brown rice, whole pasta
and seasonal produce. These nutritious items are relatively
inexpensive

10.  Fast Food Restaurants Have Calorie Counts
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of
2010 requires chain restaurants to post calorie
counts on menu boards. You can use this
information to make low-calorie decisions when
you eat fast food. Restaurants that have fewer
than 20 locations, such as small, family-owned
establishments, do not need to provide nutritional
information. When you don't have access to
calorie counts, you may be more likely to eat more
calories than you had intended.
Bibliography :
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/statistics-health-risks-eating-
fast-food-3290.html
https://www.livestrong.com/article/259534-what-are-the-
benefits-of-fast-foods/