Since the early 1950’s, the typical drive-through, fast food restaurants have exploded in popularity in America. 

They became popular because of the cheap price, convenience and satisfying taste of the food. People have become blinded by these things when in reality fast food has ruined American society.

Most people know how unhealthy fast food is. When you ingest fast food you are putting your body at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

That Big Mac may look good, but it’s clogging your arteries. 

A recent study conducted in Australia found that someone living in close proximity to fast food is more likely to have a heart attack. For every additional fast food outlet in a neighborhood, there were four additional heart attacks per 100,000 people each year, according to the study.

Fast food is associated with a higher body mass index, less successful weight-loss maintenance and weight gain. Fast food reduces the quality of diet and provides unhealthy choices especially among children and adolescents, raising their risk of obesity.

Not only does fast food consumption have negative effects on the physical health of its consumers, it also affects them mentally. The high levels of sugar, fat and other additives cause the brain to inflame. This negatively affects areas like the hippocampus, which it’s responsible for the creation of new neurons. 

This also negatively affects the ability to learn and make better connections in the brain. 

Before the popularity of fast food, people in America used to sit around a table and eat with their families much more often. Nowadays, people are being robbed of the simple but influential act of sitting around the table with their family because of the convenience of the drive-through at their favorite fast food restaurants.

According to Stanford Children’s health, “When families sit around a table to eat, it is proven that it helps strengthen family relationships, improve self esteem, and improve communication skills in the family.”

When meal time comes around, consider choosing a different option than fast food. For better physical health, try to eat something healthy for most meals. 

If able, sit around the table with your family to improve relationships with them and to improve your state of mind.