It’s probably not surprising to hear that indulging in fast food is never the best idea for your health. After all, most fast food items are laden with fat, sodium, oils, and other harmful ingredients that can take a serious toll on your body over time. However, some options are worse than others. While there are a few healthy fast food items that can help you stay on the safer side when you pull up to the drive thru, there are others that health experts recommend avoiding at all costs in order to keep your body in good shape. Making the wrong choice could have dangerous consequences, especially when it comes to your heart health.
So, what exactly is the worst option out there for your heart? To search for an answer, we spoke to Dr. Michael May, Medical Director at Wimpoleclinic.com. He told us that loaded sides, such as cheese fries, make some of the worst offenders in terms of clogged arteries and an increased risk of heart disease. Read on to learn more about the risk of these deviously delicious foods.
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Loaded sides like cheese fries
What's tastier than French fires? French fries topped with cheese, sour cream, meat, and other toppings, of course. Unfortunately, though, French fries are unhealthy enough on their own—all those add-ons only add insult to injury. Not only can indulging in a cheesy loaded side like this result in weight gain, but it can also be detrimental to your cardiovascular health.
"Loaded sides like French fries are the worst fast food options that can clog arteries," Dr. May warns. "While French fries taste really good, they are high in calories and increase cholesterol in your blood."
There are several reasons for this, starting with the oil that French fries are cooked in. "Cooking foods in hot oil make them absorb oil, which increases the calorie count," Dr. May explains. He also adds that "Reusing oil also causes it to break down, which could result in more oil absorption in the food." Yikes! There are many health risks associated with excessive oil consumption.
Then there's the added consequences of all those toppings. "When you put cheese and other toppings like bacon on French fries, they increase the calorie count. They are also high in saturated fat and sodium, which is bad for heart health," Dr. May tells us. If you ask us, the great taste just isn't worth the consequences in the long run.
The bottom line
We're not going to tell you that you have to swear off cheese fries forever. We know how cravings can be, after all—and it's okay to give in every once in a while. Just remember that moderation is key. If possible, cutting out unhealthy foods like this and replacing them with heart-healthy options is one of the best things you can do for your overall health.
READ MORE: Nutritionists Agree: The Healthiest Fast Food Meals, Ranked
