Can you remember how many times you have visited a fast food chain this week? Month? Year? Probably too many according to data analysis.

People with fast-paced lives demand quick meals that can fit into their schedules, and the
only option is takeout. Most people don’t understand that there are several health implications from eating take-out regularly.

Take out or carry out offers a lower average quality of food. To increase the speed of order delivery, many take-out food outlets use lower quality food, such as frozen or processed food. Eating frozen foods on a regular basis can lead to diabetes. Starch is a form of glucose, which is used to keep the frozen foods fresh, changes to sugar before it’s digested. This means that people who eat frozen food or take out a lot, are prone to diabetes for the excess sugar they consume.

Take-out food contains unhealthy levels of fat, sugar, and salt. Their food, which is usually
frozen food, is rich in trans fats. Trans fats increase LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol in the blood that can lead to pancreatic cancer. A study at cancer.org determined that frozen hot dogs and sausages increase the risk of contracting cancer by more than 65%.

According to the Better Health Channel, trans-fat food can cause cardiovascular diseases, such as heart diseases and clogged arteries. Salt, which is used as preservatives, can also increase cholesterol levels and blood pressure, such as hypertension.

Finally, take-out food increases family’s medical costs. Heart disease, such as stroke is an example of medical cost. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 795,000 people in the United States have strokes every year. The direct cost of stroke is around US$35 billion dollars. People of lower-income households are more prone to have strokes as they eat more frozen and trans-food.

So, the next trip time you pass by Taco Bell or any one of your favorite fast food chains, remember this, it might save you a later trip to the hospital or a detrimental diagnoses.

Remind your self, “We have food at home.”