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If you're looking for comfort food, you know there's nothing quite as delicious as a cheeseburger and fries. But, health experts say that the popular meal is actually doing more harm to your body than good. In fact, it could cause a slew of diseases and ailments! Here's why you switch that cheeseburger for a salad the next time you're out to eat:
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1. They're filled with fat
Typically, you can find at least 16.4 grams of fat in your average cheeseburger. Trans fat is naturally found in meat and has been known to raise cholesterol levels. When overconsumed it can even increase your chances of heart disease.
2. They're loaded with calories
A regular single patty cheeseburger with condiments can contain about 343 calories, according to Livestrong. But when you add more patties and toppings, you could be doing some real damage to your waistline.
3. They're high in sodium, too!
Cheeseburgers can be high in sodium depending on the cheese, toppings and condiments you put on them. According to SFGate, you could be looking at 1,081 milligrams of sodium when you eat a cheeseburger.
4. There's ammonia in the meat?
Ammonia may be used to kill the bacteria in your meat before it's cooked. "Though a handful of fast food establishments ditched the ingredient after recent controversy, it’s still lurking in many ground meat products, including those used by restaurants," says Brianna Steinhilber of Everyday Health.
5. There are additives in there, too?
Most food establishments and manufacturers use additives to preserve the texture, taste and shelf live of the patties like sodium phosphate and nitrates. "While most are deemed safe for consumption by the FDA, they’re still highly processed — and have even been linked to side effects in some people," says Steinhilber.
6. The bun isn't doing you any favors either!
Most hamburger buns are made with enriched flour, which doesn't offer your body any nutrients because it's been stripped of them. Plus, they may even be made with preservatives and additives, too! Depending on the brand, the buns can contain ammonium sulfate (which is used in fertilizers), ammonium chloride (which is found in explosives), high fructose corn syrup, and azodicarbonamide (which is used to make yoga mats).
7. One patty can be made with hundreds of cows
One fast food burger patty can contain beef from hundreds of different cows! Since these meats are mixed together, there's an increased risk of contamination if any of the cows were infected.
8. There's more than just meat in the patty
Fast food patties are notorious for containing various parts of the cow including waste and by-products! A study found that these burger patties are made up of almost 50% water and contain bone, cartilage, connective tissue, and nerve tissue, too!
9. It's easy to overeat the portion size
The recommended serving size for meat is 4 ounces. But when you order a burger at a restaurant, you could be consuming between 8 and 12 ounces instead! If you enjoy these burgers daily, you could be at risk for putting on a lot of pounds.
