Fast foods are high in calories, fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol while being low in nutrients. Regularly consuming fast food can lead to nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and increased risk of serious health conditions like heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Specifically, high sodium levels are linked to high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues while high sugar intake contributes to diabetes. Maintaining a healthy diet without fast food allows for adequate nutrition and a healthy weight to avoid chronic diseases.

1. Negative Effects of Fast Foods
Last Updated: Apr 14, 2015 | By Nancy Clarke
Fast food costs relatively little and tastes good, but the negative effects on physical
health last much longer than these immediate concerns. With the high-calorie
meals come more fat, cholesterol, salt and sugar -- and therefore fewer vitamins,
minerals and other nutrients -- than in healthier foods. TheUSDA Dietary
Guidelines for Americans reports that these eating habits create nutritional
deficiencies along with weight gain. The health problems that stem from
overweight and obesity alone can severely limit lifestyles and shorten life spans.
Atherosclerosis
Fast foods contain high amounts of cholesterol and salt, two nutrients that
contribute to cardiovascular health problems. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention report a direct link between sodium intake and negative effects on
blood pressure, and note that Americans consume most of their sodium in
processed and restaurant foods.
For instance, the USDA lists the sodium content of a biscuit, egg and sausage

2. breakfast sandwich at 1,210 milligrams and cholesterol at 290 milligrams. That’s
nearly the entire 1,500 milligrams of sodium and 300 milligrams of cholesterol the
USDA recommends daily for adults. As with eating too many salty foods, getting
too much cholesterol can cause plaque build-up in the arteries, or atherosclerosis.
This condition can lead to stroke, heart attack and death. A healthy diet that
includes more whole grains, fruits and vegetables can help you avoid the health
problems associated with atherosclerosis.
Diabetes
Many drive-through foods and drinks have high sugarcontent, including
chocolate shakes, 62 grams of sugar, and colas, 44 grams, in 16-oz. servings as
per the USDA. Fast food coleslaw,Frenchtoaststicks and even cheeseburgers
contain significantamounts of sugar. Regularlyconsuming too much sugar
can have permanent negative effects onyour blood sugarlevels.
Diabetes requires daily medication to treat blood sugarimbalances. Serious

3. complications include glaucoma, hearing loss, kidney disease, high blood
pressure, nerve damage and stroke. To reduce your risk for diabetes, the
American Heart Association(AHA) suggests ordering beveragessuchas
water, reduced-fat milk or diet soft drinks.
Obesity
Fast foods are loaded with fat and calories. Ordering without
restraint will have negative effects on your weight as you routinely
take in more calories than you can expend. Hamburgers with
multiple beef patties, cheese, bacon and mayonnaise may exceed the
65 milligrams fat limit recommended by the USDA for the whole
day.
The Office of the Surgeon General reports that obesity increases the
risk for potentially fatal heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, as
well as sleep apnea and asthma. Health problems such as arthritis

4. and pregnancy complications are also more likely in obese
individuals.
The Advantages of Not Eating Fast Foods
Last Updated: Sep 02, 2015 | By Nancy Clarke
You may have trouble passing up fast food meals, but not eating at the drive-thru
has its advantages. Avoiding the poordiet of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods
allows you to cut calories and increase your nutritional profile.
According to the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults and children
consume too many calories and too much salt, fat, sugar and cholesterol--the very
components that exist in the greatest proportions in French fries, tacos, softdrinks

5. and cheeseburgers. Giving up drive-thru meals can turn your diet around and help
prevent health problems down the road.
Getting Adequate Nutrition
Not eating fast foods canhelp you avoid deficiency-related health problems such
as anemia, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. The Dietary Guidelines
explain that high proportions of undesirable nutrients edge out the more valuable
vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber that your bodyneeds. For example, a meal of
large-sized fries, a double-meat cheeseburger, an oversized sodapop and an ice
cream dessert can approach 1,500 calories, as per the USDA Nutrient Database.
That’s three-quarters of your daily calorie allowance in a 2,000-calorie diet,
leaving just 500 calories to complete the requirements for vitamins A, B, C, D and
E, fiber, calcium, magnesium and other essential minerals. Reversing this equation
and using the smaller calorie allotment for less nutritious foods can help you
rehabilitate a poordiet.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Your bodyneeds metabolic balance to function well. If you eat a regular breakfast
and dinner in addition to the high-calorie fast food lunch, you’ll take in more
calories than you can burn. This actually reduces your energy level and raises your
risk for weight-related health problems.
The American Heart Association reports that you can avoid obesity, or a body
mass index of 30 plus, by improving a poordiet and exercising to shed unused
bodyfat. The advantages of maintaining a healthy weight include better mobility,
breathing and fitness.
Avoiding Chronic Diseases
By controlling your weight and eating a healthy diet, you can prevent health
problems and extend your life span. In contrast, obesity and a poordiet of fast

6. foods increase your risk for potentially fatal heart disease, according to the AHA.
High blood pressure from salty foods and clogged arteries from too much
cholesterol can cause heart attacks and strokes.