Why You Should Definitely Start Skipping Fast Food
By Genevieve Cunningham
Fast food is practically a staple in the average American's diet. You may not eat fast food every day, but a survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics shows that the average person eats fast food between one and three times every week. That may not seem like much on the surface, but if you think about it yearly, that's between 52 and 156 times per year. Maybe that still doesn't seem like much -- until you look at what you're actually putting into your body. Fast food isn't known for its quality, and yet, we're consuming it on a regular basis. If you really want to do your body a favor, take a look at why you should start skipping fast food in lieu of healthy home cooked meals as soon as possible.
Fast Food is Calorie Dense
Fast food is absolutely full of calories. And what's more, most of those calories aren't good calories. A meal from a fast food joint may be over a thousand calories -- for one meal! Considering most people should be eating between 1,500 and 2,000 calories per day, this is a huge portion of overall daily caloric consumption. Are you factoring this into your diet beforehand? Or are you grabbing something because it's quick and easy without any thought of caloric consumption at all? If it's the latter, you're likely taking in far more calories than you intend. And if you do this regularly, it will undoubtedly lead to weight gain. If you want to truly watch your weight and stay slim and healthy, it's best to cut fast food out of the picture in lieu of meals you can truly plan.
Fast Food Lacks Balance
Besides the massive calorie consumption that comes with most fast food products, fast food is also seriously lacking in nutritional value. Yes, you'll probably get some vitamins and minerals, especially protein and carbohydrates. But this isn't generally balanced with healthy fruits and vegetables. Instead, it's paired with starchy foods, unhealthy fats, and loads of sugar. It's not a well-balanced meal at all. If you want to be healthy, a well-balanced diet is part of life. And if balance is something you're serious about, fast food will definitely be a scarcity on your normal menu.
Is fast food delicious? Definitely. Do we all indulge on occasion? Absolutely. But should we be eating it on a regular basis? Absolutely not. If you're guilty of eating a bit too much fast food, consider cutting it out. Cook at home with healthy ingredients. Get your diet on track so that you can splurge on fast food on rare occasions without any serious harm to your health. Fast food might be easy, but your health and wellness should win out in this daily diet battle.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Woodstock, Ga.