Chewing the Fat on Low Cost Fast Food

The energy (kilojoule) intake of a person is determined by the total amount that he or she eats and drinks. If we consume too much food and have an oversupply of energy we become overweight. This is even more likely to occur if we are inactive. A typical western high fat and carbohydrate diet is believed to cause many people to become overweight.

Overweight people are more likely to have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, gall bladder problems and suffer breathing difficulties and joint problems. High fat diets have also been linked to increased risk of cancer of the colon and breast.

The nutrients in food which supply energy are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The body breaks these down to provide energy which is measured in kilojoules. In the western world, we eat an average of 130 grams of fat per person each day, which is much more than the world average.

Most fast foods are overloaded with fats. Over-consumption of these foods can push our daily intake of fat well over the 30-35% of total energy supply recommended by the National Heart Foundation. Unfortunately, many people get as much as 40-45% of their energy requirements from fats.

To come within the Heart Foundation's recommendations we would need to reduce our intake of fat by one quarter.

How does fast food measure up? Have a look at the Table below:

Fat Content of Fast Food

Amount of Fat (grams)

Large hamburger 32

French fries 13

Deep friend chicken (100 grams) 20

Meat pie 30

Sausage roll (120 grams) 30

Chiko roll 10

Frankfurt 12

Hot apple pie 15

Doughnut 10

BUT

Fruit, vegetables, cereals 1

Here are some examples of the fat content of fast food:

Of the amount of fat needed in an 'ideal' daily diet,

- A Friend Chicken meal contributes 70%

- A Chinese Meal of Pork in Plum Sauce gives 78%

- A serve of Fish and Chips gives 63%

- An average Lebanese meal contributes about 60%

- A Hamburger, Chips and Thickshake gives 56% (from one of the chains)

Obviously, constant intake of food loaded with fat is not good for you. Foods which are high in fat can also contribute to increased cholesterol levels where excess accumulates in the artery walls causing clogging of the arteries; a cause of coronary heart disease. Remember, what you eat today you are tomorrow. Your future health can depend on the food you eat now!

A note about polyunsaturated oils - be informed. Saturated oils and fats are animal fats which tend to raise cholesterol levels, especially when eaten in excessive amounts. Polyunsaturated oils are extracted from plant seeds such as sunflower, safflower and corn and tend to lower blood cholesterol levels, thereby protecting against blood clotting (thrombosis).

However, because polyunsaturated oil won't keep as long as saturated fat, many commercial operators use hydrogenated polyunsaturated oil which is great for storage capacity and economy, but also raises their saturated fat level. So no matter what fast foods are cooked in, it is more than reasonable to assume that they will contain significant amounts of saturated fats.

Ian Macdonald as founder and owner of Macdonald's Gourmet Burgers combines his passion and knowledge of food, wine and nutrition with savvy business tactics. He is also the MD of a corporate consulting firm that advises on strategic negotiation, dispute resolution and workplace change. Clients are mainly from top 100 corporations. For lots of free resources from their extensive website go to: [MacdonaldsGourmetBurgers.com]