This story has been updated since it was originally posted on 04/03/2022
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the CDC. Women are at especially high risk—cardiovascular disease causes 1 in 3 deaths in women each year. While things like genetics can play a role, a healthy diet and lifestyle are the best ways to prevent putting yourself at risk of heart-related illness.
We all know that the Standard American Diet is packed with preservatives—as a society we prioritize efficiency and ease, and prepackaged and processed foods are easiest to have when you’re on the go. But they could be increasing your risk for a number of health issues, especially heart disease. Some ingredients are worse than others, but one that is a particular threat to your heart health is saturated fat. It’s no secret that fast food is typically packed with saturated fat, but there’s one type of meat in particular that cardiologists warn you should steer clear of while stopping at the drive-thru: pork.
To learn more about how fast food affects our overall health and why fast food pork, in particular, is such a major culprit, we spoke to experts Dr. Raed Bargout, a cardiologist at Dignity Health-Glendale Memorial Hospital, Caitlin Policastro, a nurse practitioner at the New York Center for Innovative Medicine, and Trista Best, Registered Dietitian for Balance One Supplements. Read on for all of their insight.
Health Effects Of Fast Food Pork
While a fast food meal here and there is nothing to worry about, being thoughtful with what you order is one thing that you can do to invest in your long term health, especially because meat used in fast food is often cooked in lots of oils that are high in saturated fats. When it comes to fast food meats that you should be wary of, pork is one you should pay attention to.
Pork on its own is already tricky when it comes to heart health. “Pork is loaded with saturated fat—leading to cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol, weight gain and more.” Says Policastro. Eating pork from fast food restaurants just adds onto the saturated fat content, as it’s most likely cooked in oils loaded with saturated fat.
"Food that is rich in saturated fat increases total cholesterol, LDL, and lipoprotein (Lp)a," says Dr. Bargout. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood that is necessary for building healthy cells. But when you have too much of it, it can prevent blood from efficiently pumping through your body, which could lead to things like heart attack and stroke. Monitoring your cholesterol levels is a key component of managing your health, especially if you’re already at risk of heart disease.
Best agrees that fast food pork can take a toll on your overall health. "Fast food pork can take an already unhealthy animal product and increase it significantly," she tells us, noting that one of the main problems with this meat is "not knowing what all has gone into making the ifnal product." She explains that " It may have added ingredients that raise its already high saturated fat content. There may also be added sugars from sauces such as barbecue and others. Then there is also the concern for high amounts of sodium that are usually in pork for stability, flavor, and texture."
For this reason, it's likely best to go with other options or be sure you know what's going into your food. "If purchasing pork from a fast food restaurant it is best to make sure you are able to check the nutrient and ingredient content," Best says. "If this isn't available then opt for a non-pork item from the menu."
As stated previously, all things can be enjoyed in moderation. There’s nothing wrong with a fast food meal here and there. But, if you are already at high risk of heart-related illness, being mindful of what you’re ordering and what it contains is important for keeping your health in mind. When ordering at a fast food restaurant, it may be best to avoid sandwiches or meals containing pork, as they’re full of saturated fat, which can increase your cholesterol levels.
