While fast food can fit as part of an overall balanced diet, consuming more than one daily meal will increase sodium intake.
Risk of stroke
High sodium intake raises blood pressure and risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke over time.
2. Gain weight
A burger, fries, and cola at a fast-food restaurant can be 1,000 calories or more. This is especially true for bigger burgers, fries, and beverages.
Gain weight
Over time, eating more calories than your body requires can cause weight gain.
3. Consume less fiber
The lack of whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fruit on most fast-food menus makes it hard to fulfill fiber and phytonutrient demands.
Consume less fiber
A low-fiber diet can cause constipation and reduce the risk of colon cancer and lower blood cholesterol.
4. High cholesterol
Fast food meals can include 75% or more of your saturated fat consumption, and some can have 100 to 150% of the daily limit.
High cholesterol
One meal at most fast-food restaurants contains a lot of saturated fat. On a 2,000-calorie diet, saturated fat is limited to 22 grams per day.
5. Nutrient deficiencies
If you consume fast food often, you may be deficient in nutrients. Many fast-food menus skip potassium, which is in many fruits and vegetables.
Nutrient deficiencies
As most people underconsume these four nutrients, you may not reach your needs or become deficient if you continue consuming fast food for meals and snacks.