Background 

Since the mid-1900s, America has seen a drastic increase in fast-food restaurants and drive-thrus. Places such as Mcdonald’s, Taco Bell, Canes, Starbucks, and Jack in the Box have become extremely popular, and also very convenient. For busy individuals or big families, fast food is often the only option when it comes to mealtime. It can save time in lieu of cooking a meal, therefore allowing you to manage your schedule.  This way of food is often very reasonably priced, which attracts even more people. You can get a cheeseburger at Mcdonald’s for $2.00. Not only that, but you will see these establishments everywhere you look in America; it can be hard to resist swinging by one of these places to pick up a side of fries.

Physical Risks 

Despite all of these takeaways, fast food can be very dangerous. According to the article, TIF Procedure this source of food is often heavily processed which can lead to increased risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, digestive issues, and potentially cancer. It would be difficult to find a fast-food option with proper nourishment. The majority of this food lacks nutrients such as fiber and protein, which are essential for the human body to thrive. Fast food is most often high in sugar, saturated fat, and calories.  So, if you are solely relying on fast food for nourishment, you may want to rethink the risks next time you are craving Chick-fil-a chicken nuggets.

Mental Risks 

Not only does fast food have an ongoing list of physical risks, but it has also been proven to cause mental issues as well. According to the article healthline, fast-food consumption has been linked with causing the brain to inflame with the high levels of sugar and saturated fats. This can lead to depression, anxiety, memory loss, and it increases your desire to want to splurge on more unhealthy foods.

Alternatives

Though fast food has countless risks and negative effects, there are some ways to still enjoy fast food with more nourishment and less risks of developing the issues linked with it. The article, healthline states some healthier fast-food options including egg bites from Starbucks, Wendy’s Mediterranean salad, Chick-fil-a’s market salad, and Panda Express’s teriyaki chicken with grilled veggies. Though these options may not be as appealing as the others, they are significantly healthier than items such as a Big Mac.

Best Option

Though healthier options can be chosen from fast food restaurants, cooking meals freshly is the best option. Meal-prepping is an option that can be affordable, quick, and can also fit into most schedules. All it requires is cooking meals before the week starts and packaging them to be eaten throughout the following week. Meal-prepping allows you to choose the foods you want to eat and can be made to be nutritiously balancing.

Conclusions

Being able to receive decent quality meals in the matter of minutes at a low cost is extremely convenient. But is it worth it with all of the physical and mental risks associated with it? It is best to stick to a healthier, balanced diet. It is okay to eat fast-foods and junk in moderation, but it should not be something that you rely on. There are other options to manage meals in a quick and efficient manner.