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Essay / Health Concerns in the Fast Food Industry
Health concerns still exist today when it comes to the fast food industry in South Africa. Many people prefer to get fast food or takeout rather than grocery shopping and preparing healthy foods at home. Although many fast food brands claim their products are healthy, they have been proven to contain high levels of sugar and fat, both of which can be very taxing on your overall health and vitality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Trans fats are created during food processing and are commonly found in baked goods, crackers, and cookies, to name a few. This type of fat is not healthy in any amount. It is said to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Excessive consumption of fast foods increases your chances of gaining weight and it is very possible to become a victim of obesity, which puts pressure on your heart and lungs. You may feel out of breath. Some fast food franchises offer substitutes or complementary products that appear to be the healthiest approach. KFC has been incorporating its coleslaw and mashed potatoes into its menus for years, offering a "healthier" alternative to its customers. Detailed Analysis: Many fast food franchises offer “healthier” alternatives to customers to help them cut down on unhealthy choices, like place salads. chips fried in unhealthy oils. Some franchises encourage choosing healthier options by lowering the price of these healthier choices and only offering sugar-free drinks instead of high-sugar drinks. Fast food industries would have to create entirely healthy meal portions and increase the cost of purchasing less healthy options, making it more difficult to eat unhealthy. In this way, the weaker segments of society will naturally start to turn to a healthier approach (for example, buying cheese and bread to consume homemade sandwiches). Although the promotion of healthy alternatives exists, the problem that persists is the frequent purchase of the brand's products. Customers' frequency of purchases due to laziness and the low price of fast food meals endanger consumers by increasing their sugar/insulin levels, and therefore their blood pressure. This can lead to poor management of the body, causing heart disease and eventually cardiac death due to the abnormal increase in sugar in the system. Coupled with increased sugar levels, without exercising or burning the extra calories, obesity begins to take its toll. High levels of trans fat, sugar, sodium and saturated fat are used at higher levels, exceeding recommended amounts in an effort to add flavor to their products, making them more palatable/pleasant (increased productivity). Increasing how often someone eats isn't a problem – what they eat is what matters. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Essay Consistent or frequent consumption of healthy foods grants the body stable and reliable energy and mineral levels. Constant consumption of unhealthy alternatives increases the body's energy levels...