Discover the 10 unhealthiest fast food items that you should avoid for better health. Find out how these meals can harm your health and their shocking calorie, sodium, and fat contents.
Many individuals eat out these days because life moves so quickly. Because it’s quick and delicious, the majority of us adore fast food. Have you ever thought about the hidden calories, fats, and sodium in your favorite fast food? These can cause major health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Recent research said that a lot of well-known fast food businesses in the U.S. are offering food that has too many calories, fats, and sodium. Some combo meals have more calories and fat than you should eat in a whole day. Let’s take a deeper look at the ten worst fast food items and find out what makes them so bad for your health.
1. Wendy’s (the Wendy’s Triple Baconator Meal)
2,160 kcal of calories
54 g of saturated fat
Sodium: 3,400 mg
Why it’s bad for you: The Triple Baconator Meal from Wendy’s has more than double the daily maximum of fat and more than 3,000 milligrams of sodium. The Triple Baconator Meal is a significant source of calories. This meal by itself can raise your cholesterol levels and make you more likely to get heart disease, which is bad for your heart health.
2. Sonic Drive-In (Sonic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Master Shake)
1,720 kcal of calories
48 teaspoons of sugar
Why it’s bad for you: The Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Master Shake from Sonic has 1,720 calories and 48 teaspoons of sugar, which is way too much. Drinking this shake daily will give you too much sugar. The excess sugar can make you more likely to become insulin resistant, obese, or type 2 diabetic.
3. Taco Bell (Baja Blast with Taco Bell Beefy 5-Layer Burrito)
Calories: 970 kcal
Sodium: 1,770 mg
Why it’s bad for you: The Beefy 5-Layer Burrito from Taco Bell has a lot of sodium, around 1,800 mg per serving. Over time, eating a lot of sodium can cause high blood pressure and problems with the kidneys.
4. Dairy Queen (the Dairy Queen Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Basket)
1,300 kcal of calories
2,400 mg of sodium
21 g of saturated fat
The Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Basket from Dairy Queen contains high levels of unhealthy fats and excessive sodium, which are detrimental to your health. Eating this meal often can raise your risk of heart disease and stroke because it has 1,300 calories and more sodium than the daily recommended amount.
5. KFC (3-Piece Extra Crispy Chicken Meal)
1,300 kcal of calories
2,900 mg of sodium
22 g of saturated fat
How it hurts your health: The Extra Crispy Chicken Meal from KFC has more than 2,900 mg of sodium and 22 grams of saturated fat. Consuming excessive sodium and fat can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
6. Quiznos (Classic Italian Sub from Quiznos)
1,300 kcal of calories
2,850 mg of sodium
What makes it bad for you: The Classic Italian Sub from Quiznos may look like a healthy choice, but it has 1,300 calories and more than 2,800 milligrams of salt. Too much sodium can hurt your kidneys, raise your blood pressure, and make you hold on to water.
7. McDonald’s (the Big Mac Meal)
1,300 kcal of calories
26 grams of saturated fat
1,000 milligrams of sodium
Why it’s bad for you: The Big Mac Meal is one of the most popular fast food meals in the world, yet it has many calories, saturated fat, and sodium. This meal has over half of the daily recommended amount of saturated fat, which can lead to obesity and heart disease.
8. Smashburger (Smashburger Classic Smash)
1,050 kcal of calories
28 g of saturated fat
Why it’s bad for you: The Smashburger Classic Smash seems like a fancy meal, but it has 1,050 calories and 28 grams of saturated fat. Eating meals with a lot of fat on a daily basis might raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, which can cause heart disease.
9. Little Caesars (Little Caesars 3 Meat Treat Pizza)
2,140 kcal of calories
4,260 mg of sodium
The 3 Meat Treat Pizza from Little Caesars is bad for you because it has a lot of sodium and calories. This pizza has more than 2,100 calories and more than 4,000 milligrams of sodium, which is well more than the daily recommended amounts of both. It’s one of the unhealthiest fast food alternatives out there.
10. Chick-fil-A (Original Chicken Sandwich with Waffle Fries)
Calories: 800 kcal
750 milligrams of sodium
Why it’s bad for you: The Original Chicken Sandwich from Chick-fil-A with Waffle Fries is a meal that tricks you. It may look healthier, but it still has a lot of calories and sodium. Adding smoothies or lemonade to your order means you’re getting more sugar, which can make you gain weight and raise your blood sugar levels.
What’s wrong with fast food?
Eating a lot of fast food that is heavy in calories, fats, and sodium on a regular basis might have adverse impacts on your health in the long run. Here are some ways that fast food can affect your body:
Obesity: Eating too many calories without enough exercise makes you gain weight.
Heart Disease: High cholesterol, clogged arteries, and heart disease are all caused by eating too much saturated fat and sodium.
Type 2 Diabetes: Eating too much sugar might make your body resistant to insulin and cause diabetes.
Better Options for Fast Food
You don’t have to stop eating fast food altogether. Here are some ways to make better choices:
Go Grilled: Choose grilled chicken sandwiches or wraps over fried ones.
Don’t Drink Sugary Drinks: Instead of sugary sodas, drink water or drinks that aren’t sweet.
Add veggies: Choose salads or veggies as sides to gain more fiber and fewer calories.
Watch Your Portions: To prevent eating too many calories, stick to smaller portions.
Final Thoughts
It’s okay to eat fast food every once in a while, but knowing what’s in it might help you make smarter decisions. The Top 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Items listed above show how popular fast food items can be dangerous in ways you would not expect. You can still enjoy a treat now and then if you make smart choices that protect your health.
Disclaimer: The material below comes from news reporting. Please talk to a nutritionist or doctor before making any changes to your diet to get personalized recommendations.
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