- Experts have ranked the unhealthiest fast food cheeseburgers from 24 leading US chains.
- Researchers compared menu items based on calorie, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium content.
- Nutritionists explain the findings.
fast food Maybe not traditionally associated with healthy eating, but everything in moderation – right? Still, not all cheeseburgers, fries, or even milkshakes are created equal. So, the researchers put the most popular chains to the test and found many unhealthy (And least unhealthy) fast food Burgers in America.
Research conducted by Puloshkir The most closely related cheeseburgers in the 24 leading US fast food chains have been identified. Using each chain’s nutrition menu, researchers compared calorie, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium content based on the Department of Health’s Nutrient Profiling Method. They then scored the menu items and added up the total “unhealthy score” of each product in each fast food chain and ranked the restaurants. The higher the score, the more unhealthy the cheeseburger.
According to the study, some fast food restaurants left room for improvement. In particular, the five boys, who took the first place in the ranking of unhealthy cheeseburgers, with an unhealthy score of 50 points. Whataburger, Smash Burger, and Carl’s Jr. are next on the list. The Five Guys cheeseburger, however, has 73% more saturated fat than any other fast food cheeseburger on the list.
Slow-cooked ground beef in a multigrain bun offers nutritional benefits, and can actually be part of a healthy diet that provides protein, iron and vitamin B12. But the World Health Organization (WHO) has found beef Ultra-processed foods Causing cancer, which the study indicates may be what you get with a fast-food cheeseburger.
Burger King and McDonald’s cheeseburgers tied for relatively unhealthy scores (18 points)—each with less than a quarter of cheeseburgers in Five Guys and less than half of Wendy’s cheeseburgers.
The least unhealthy cheeseburger the researchers evaluated was Culver’s, coming in at 17 points. However, note that what makes it “least unhealthy” on this list doesn’t necessarily make it a well-rounded, healthy meal (Clover’s “butterburger” is still a nutritious choice by the study’s scoring methods. not considered).
bottom line
So, why are these “unhealthy” scores important? Carrie Gaines, MS, RD, Registered Dietitian and Author Small change dietexplains what each of these numbers might mean for your long-term health:
- Calories: Excess calories can lead to excess weight which may lead to chronic diseases, such as obesity, heart diseaseand Type 2 diabetes.
- Saturated Fat: High consumption of saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, High cholesterol levelsand some cancers.
- Sugar: High amounts of sugar in the diet are associated with increased inflammation in the body, leading to a higher risk of heart disease, liver disease, and liver disease. Types of sugars.
- Sodium: Too much sodium in the foods we eat can add up blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.
With this in mind, you may be wondering if any of your beloved fast foods fit into a well-rounded diet. While Courtney Paletra, MS, RD, CNSC, registered dietitian and owner eat your lifesays no – remember that there are better options for you at fast food restaurants. Instead of a cheeseburger, you can choose the following:
- Arrange grilled chicken on sandwiches or salads, as shown, fried chicken dishes are high in calories and high in fat content.
- Skip the fridge and opt for a salad or fruit.
- Stick with low calorie or no calorie drinks.
Everyone should think about the food we eat Angel Planellis, MS, RDNa Seattle-based nutritionist and national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “And whether people like it or not, fast food is here to stay.” With that said, there are certain demographics that should be more careful and that would be anyone with any health conditions that are sensitive to sodium, fat or sugar (eg high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes , and any kidney/kidney problems), those notes
For most people, it’s hard to beat fast food for cost and convenience, so what matters most are the choices they make there, Gans says. “Also, let’s remember that there are opportunities at other meals and snacks throughout the week to choose more healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and 100% whole grains.”
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