Fast food isn’t good for us. This is far from a unique revelation. From household names like Pizza Hut and Subway to Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s, there’s an endless list of high-convenience, low-nutrition options many of us default to on our way back from a busy day in the office.
However, there may be more dangers to these drive-throughs than we first thought. It turns out, not only are you exposing yourself to rancid oils, trans-fat, and pounds of sugar: but a wide range of menu options have been found to contain dangerous levels of toxic substances as well.
My recent exploration into the fast-food industry has revealed unsettling truths. Popular choices ranging from Pizza Hut’s pepperoni pizza to the Subway cold cut combo, and from the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich to the McDonald’s Big Mac are laden with heavy metals. Astonishingly, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury are present in meals served by 20 different fast food outlets across 42 menu items.
Health Risks of Heavy Metals
So, why does it matter if there are heavy metals in my food?
Well, the accumulation of heavy metals in the body poses serious health risks. These elements are linked to conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, heart disease, and can lead to the calcification of blood vessels, increased risk of stroke, and potentially, fatty liver disease.
Startling Research Findings
This information comes from in-depth research and tests that found alarmingly high levels of cadmium in every fast food sample tested.
Cadmium, known for its carcinogenic potential, can cause toxic reactions even at low levels if accumulated over time. Notably, the study pointed out items like the Chipotle burrito bowl and In-N-Out french fries as having cadmium levels far beyond what is considered safe, highlighting a silent but significant health threat.
Furthermore, large amounts of arsenic were discovered in over 50% of the foods tested. Lead, harmful even at low levels, can impair a child’s learning capabilities and contribute to developmental issues.
It’s not just standard metals, either, that we found. The majority of tested items contained dangerous amounts of well-known poison arsenic, especially in dishes like Panda Express’s orange chicken and various Chipotle options.
Arsenic is not only a potent carcinogenic, but exposure is linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Pregnant women especially beware: exposure in-utero is correlated to reduced cognitive development and increase in skin disorders.
Making Informed Choices
So, how can we protect ourselves and our loved ones? Awareness is the first step. Realizing the health risks associated with fast food encourages us to make more informed choices, opt for cleaner sources of meat, reduce our fast food intake, and support establishments that prioritize quality ingredients…or better yet, cook them ourselves!
By making the choice to use organic, local, whole foods, we cut out the risk of these heavy metals invading our dinner plates for good.
The Takeaway?
While fast food offers a convenient solution to our daily calorie needs, the hidden health risks are too significant to ignore.
By making informed choices, seeking cleaner food sources, and advocating for transparency in the food industry, we can safeguard our health.
