Reduce Health Risk Associated With Fast Food

TIPS TO REDUCE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FAST FOOD

Nutrition can often be a complicated subject. People often ask themselves:

• How much food should I eat?

• What foods are best for me to eat?

• How can I stay healthy when I am eating in a hurry or on a budget?

• Is there anything wrong with eating fast food?

This publication attempts to answer some of these questions, as well as providing some valuable tips on improving the quality of fast food meals.

If you have questions about your health or your eating habits, be sure to ask your doctor. Also, the Rhode Island Cancer Council can provide you with a list of doctors in your area as well as further, specific disease information.

Numerous studies have shown that a diet low in fat and high in fiber can reduce the risk of many types of cancers, as well as heart disease and can improve general health over time. Also, young girls who consume more calories and fat than is recommended increase their risk of developing Breast Cancer later in life. Unfortunately, fast food tends to contain high fat and many calories, making it an unwise choice. If you choose to eat fast food, however, there are steps you can take to making these types of food healthier.

The average adult should consume approximately 2,000 calories per day in order to maintain his or her weight. This value tends to fluctuate, depending on body size, age, gender, and with pregnancy. 2,000 calories is, however, the average and is the value used to calculate the percent daily values presented in this brochure. The following table contains the corresponding values for various other food components