English 101 Essay 3: Researched Argument Audience: Americans Purpose: Explain the dangers of fast food Final As fast food continues to thrive in the United States, people and this problem are getting bigger everyday. When is the last time you thought, “l will get an apple instead of fries with lunch? ” Not enough Americans understand the awful effects fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, Wendy, and Burger King can have on them. Sure it is quick, easy, and affordable, but it is not worth the health risks that come along with eating so poorly.
Whether fast food is a choice for Americans or it is their only option, we need to change the way people think about fast food. The average fast food meal contains over 1,000 calories and average calorie intake for an entire day is only 2,000. This is a problem for people who make fast food a normal thing instead of something when they’re in a pinch and need a quick meal. As we all know, most people are busy seven days a week and there is never much free time in their day. Eating in the car is a quick easy alternative, but it is not worth the risks.
In 2004, studies showed that regularly eating fast food doubles your chance of developing insulin resistance, which greatly increases risk of developing type two diabetes. The number of people worldwide living with diabetes has more than doubled since 1980, from 153 million to nearly 350 million in 2011. The risks are even having effects on higher-ups in the fast food industry. Dave Thomas, CEO of Wendy who talks up the company’s burgers on TV, had a coronary bypass operation several years ago because of his fast food habits.
As we can see on more recent commercials, ex.’s dropped a few pounds, but that hasn’t stopped him from forcing his products to the rest of us. Not only is the fast food industry forcing these products on Americans, we are being fooled into supervising so many items because we think it is a good deal. In addition to being packed with calories, fast food is typically served in large portion sizes. Fries, burgers, milkshakes and sodas are supervised to attract customers to purchase more and all these options are available at cheap prices compared to healthier foods.
A report published by BBC News notes that portion size leads to overcorrection of fast food and contributes to weight gain, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The burgers and fries are not the only thing we should be concerned about as customers to the fast food industry; drinks can be Just as dangerous. Fast food meals often include beverages such as fruit Juice, milkshakes, smoothies and sodas that are high in sugar and calories. A twelve-ounce soda contains nine teaspoons of sugar and 140 calories.
An article published in the medical Journal “Pediatrics” warns that high sugar consumption can lead to obesity and an increase in Type 2 diabetes in tooth adults and children. All types of diabetes can have consequences for the body Fast Food Industry By demeaned Although diet sodas have fewer calories, they may encourage poor food choices by increasing sugar cravings. Having a brother with diabetes, I have seen the effects first hand and it is not easy to manage.
Seeing him measure everything he eats and watching him test his blood sugar several times a day has made me realize you are better off developing good eating habits sooner rather than later. One thing we all know about fast food is it contains fat. Trans fats and saturated tats are what we find in our supervised Big Macs, milkshakes, and chicken nuggets. Most trans fats are made during food processing through partial hydrogenation of unsaturated fats. This process creates fats that are easier to cook with and lengthens the shelf life unlike naturally occurring oils that do not affect shelf life.
These trans fats are called industrial or synthetic trans fats. Saturated fats come mainly from animals. Having too many saturated fats can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. One type of fat that is beneficial is monounsaturated fat. This is a type of fat found n a variety of foods and oils. Studies show that eating foods rich in monounsaturated fats improves blood cholesterol levels, which can decrease your risk of heart disease. Avocados, peanut butter, and olive oil are Just some examples of monounsaturated fats.
Changes need to be made so America’s youth does not retain the awful habits most adults have. Although fast food may never be a thing of the past, we can make much healthier choices like grilled chicken instead of burgers, fat free salad dressings, and low fat milk and water instead of soda. After all, most of America’s adolescence take in much more than the suggested amount of crabs each day. More than half of these children do not meet the fruit and vegetable suggestion. Over the past two decades the number of obese adolescents has tripled.
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2003-2006, 31. 9% of children and teens were overweight and 16. 3% were obese. Other surveys have found a total obesity rate among children and adolescents to be 21-24%. So many people are having a problem saying no to fast food, some wonder why there has not been a medication to help us influence our decision. There is actually research being done to manipulate self-control in the brain to help you make better decisions.
Having a drug like this might sound crazy, but there are already drugs like Radian to help people with attention defect disorder and anti-depressants help people suffering from depression. There are two major factors when making eating choices, taste and health. People trying to lose weight are faced with many different food choices each day. It is really simple; people who put more emphasis on their health have an easier time turning down unhealthy food. People more concerned about instant pleasure from great tasting food tend to make the unhealthy decision.
With the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fem., scientists can see how a brain region called the ventral medial preferential cortex becomes active in valuing options in predicaments like this. In theory, a drug of the future could stimulate the key areas of the brain to help control food choices, save money, and Just make better overall decisions to help people in the long run. As a whole is becoming more unhealthy and obese every day. The statistics are everywhere, but that has not stopped Americans from eating these grease-filled burgers and feeding them to their children as well.
As our obesity rate increases, diabetes becomes more common and heart attacks are on the rise due to clogged arteries from eating fast food. Americans need to make better food decisions either on their own, or with the help of the self-control medication. If a change is not made soon the next generation is bound for disaster. Citation “Adolescent nutrition. ” Teresa G. Dole. , Lisa M. Journey. , and Margaret Alicia, PhD. The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets. De. Jacqueline L. Longer. Detroit: Gale, 2008. 2 voles.
