If you are looking for fast food nutrition facts, then you are probably concerned about your health. You might be trying to lose weight. You might simply be concerned about whether or not you are meeting your daily nutritional requirements. Regardless of your reasons for wanting to know, the information in this article should help you navigate your way through the menus of popular restaurants. Let’s start with fat. There are several different kinds of dietary fats. Dishes containing meat, poultry and fish will contain a combination of saturated, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, along with cholesterol. Shrimp has some of the highest cholesterol levels and is not a source of the omega-3 fatty acids found in many types of fish and seafood. On the other hand, it is relatively low in total fat, as long as it is not breaded and fried.
Vegetable fats or oils do not contain cholesterol. However, some of them are very high in omega-6 fatty acids. But, omega-3s and 6s are essential to the human diet. In fact, they are the only fats that must be present in our diets. We can do without all of the others. But, if we consume too many 6s and not enough 3s, it causes chronic inflammation, which is a cause of cellular aging. The published fast food nutrition facts do not break down the fat content of a menu item completely. Manufacturers are required to list the total, the saturated and the unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, but they are not required to list the omega-3 or omega-6 content.
Recent changes in the law have made it mandatory for manufacturers to list the content of trans-fatty acids. Trans-fat is unnatural and the most dangerous kind in terms of heart health.
The fast food nutrition facts are still misleading. Trans-fats are supposed to be listed, but only if a single serving of the item contains more than a gram. In the grocery store, it is possible to check the label of ingredients for partially hydrogenated oils. That is not possible in a restaurant.
Fats are only part of the problem. Simple carbohydrates are another. They are digested too quickly. They cause spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels, setting into action a chain of events that leads to the production of dangerous molecules called Advanced Glycation End-products or AGEs. You may have heard of AGEs, because they made the news recently. They have been identified as a cause of wrinkles. The published fast food nutrition facts will not tell you whether or not you are eating simple carbohydrates or partially hydrogenated oils. There are too many “bad” foods to include them all here, but if you use the guidelines below, you should get a relatively healthy meal.
Avoid the buns and breads. They are simple carbohydrates.
Load up on all kinds of veggies, except white potatoes. White potatoes are simple carbs, too.
Choose fish or chicken breast that has been baked, not fried or breaded.
Choose a low calorie dressing, preferably one made with olive oil and vinegar. Remember that sliced American cheese adds fat, salt and calories, but not a lot of flavor. There are more fast food nutrition facts online, if you want more details. Everyone needs to eat out sometimes. We just need to make healthier choices.
Patsy Hamilton is an experienced healthcare professional and freelance writer. Learn more about eating right and making healthier choices at Total Health and Fitness.
