HEALTHY FAST FOOD???

mrsdizzyd84

I'd argue that everyone should be sodium aware. You may not eat a particularly low sodium diet, but you ought to at least pay attention. It doesn't benefit you to stick your head in the sand and pretend that your sodium intake doesn't matter.

You know, I'm one of those unlucky Americans that is dealing with high blood pressure. It is nothing to fool around with. Sure, if you heart and kidneys are healthy your body can handle more sodium, but that doesn't make it a good thing, and that certainly doesn't give you a free pass to ignore your sodium intake.

Bottom line is, a high sodium diet increases your likelihood to suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease and a myriad of other health problems. Science has born this out for many many years. That doesn't mean everyone will have this problem, but from a statistical point of view, you are certainly increasing your chances. There are several other risk factors such as family history of high blood pressure and/or heart disease as well as being overweight/obese.

Most of us here on MFP are overweight/obese so we are already dealing with that risk factor, then most of use eat a high sodium diet, so that is the second risk factor. Unfortunately, many of us have a history of high blood pressure/heart disease in the family, another risk factor. This means that many of us already have 3 things going on that increase our risk of high blood pressure/heart disease. But it doesn't stop there. Are you a woman over 65? Add another risk factor. Are you African-American? Add another risk factor? Do you drink too much? Add another risk factor. Are you mostly sedentary? Add another. The list goes on.

The point of the matter is this: if you can eat a lower sodium diet you should because we are all at risk. No one is perfect. Sometimes fast food is the only option, but it doesn't hurt to be aware of your sodium intake. It doesn't hurt to try to keep it down to at most 2,500mg a day (but preferably lower). And what's more, it's not that difficult once you start paying attention.

Ebwash89

Ugghh...I'm so sick of everyone worrying about sodium and processed foods, etc etc...unless you have your own garden, your own cow, your own chickens, etc, you have to worry about sodium and processing...life is way too short for all that!
Watch your calories!!! A calorie is a calorie is a calorie...period!

That's silly. You can buy fresh or frozen vegetables and meats at the grocery store that are not processed and don't have sodium added. You can even buy no/reduced salt canned foods. I can't speak for anyone else but I don't worry about sodium and processed food additives because of the calories. I worry about them because they are unnatural and mostly unhealthy. I like being thin, but I like being healthy even more.

Fast food is not a necessity in today's world. It's a convenience.

I'm sorry but you all do realize that the same food from fast food companies are the same foods that are in your gracery stores. Its all sprayed with chemicals and preservatives.