Are Burgers Healthy? Though burgers provide protein and other nutrients, they're not seen as a healthy food option. That's because they're high in saturated fat and cholesterol. They're also often bundled with sodas and french fries, which contain large amounts of sugar and saturated fats.
Junk food items such as burgers and pizzas contain high amount of fats as well as carbohydrates.
Although low in total calories, a burger is higher in fat content than pizza slices. Regular intake of food rich in fats can lead to obesity increasing risk of lifestyle diseases such as heart conditions, diabetes and hypertension.
A new report says that you should only eat one burger a week if you want to do what's right for your health. The report also recommends less than 4 eggs a week and only one serving of dairy a day.
To contextualise, a McDonald's hamburger packs 250kcal and 13g of muscle-building protein, while a medium portion of fries comes in at 337kcal, 3.3g of protein and 42g of carbohydrates, a macronutrient often linked to weight-gain. Looking for a good reason to go big on your next cheat day?
The healthiest item from McDonald's classic menu is the hamburger, which delivers a healthy portion of protein while staying comparatively low in calories.
“The fattier beef will add more calories to your burger,” she explains. “There could also be binders in the ground beef patty such as egg or bread crumbs, and with the addition of toppings (hello, cheese and bacon) and a refined-grain bun, this all adds up to a high-calorie meal in one sandwich.”
Science says that junk foods are full of calories, fat and excess sodium and having it even once can be bad for your health. For example, a single hamburger contains 500 calories, 25 grams of fat, 40 grams of carbs, 10 grams of sugar, and 1,000 milligrams of sodium, which is enough to cause havoc in your system.
07/7Eat only one meal of fast food
Although it may be beneficial to eat junk food once a week, make sure that you eat just one such meal throughout the day, or your body might end up stocking all those calories which may end up getting stored as fat.
A review of studies on fast food and heart health found having fast food more than once a week was linked to a higher risk of obesity, while eating fast food more than twice a week was associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and death from coronary heart disease.
Let your health decide
Pound for pound, chicken is the choice that gives you fewer calories and saturated fats compared with beef.
If you are on a weight loss diet, a sandwich is definitely a healthier choice when it comes to the calories.
A home-cooked or freshly prepared burger will not only stave a craving but actually provide you with many muscle building nutrients, including protein and iron. Spaghetti – While this high carbohydrate meal is often considered taboo in your weight loss plan, a once a week indulge can do you good.
Eating KFC Regularly Makes You fat
The dishes of KFC are mostly deep-fried and are made using tons of oil. So, the regular consumption of KFC can make you gain weight. Therefore, continuous consumption of fast food, chicken, and meat that too with excess oil can lead to heart and fat-related issues.
Regular consumption of fast food, such as McDonald's unhealthy options, can contribute to weight gain, obesity, and various health issues due to the high caloric density, unhealthy fats, and sugar content in many of their menu items.
McDonald's promote their food as 'nutritious', but the reality is that it is processed junk food - high in fat, sugar and salt, and low in fibre and vitamins. A diet of this type is linked with a greater risk of heart disease, cancer,diabetes and other diseases.
So, how many is too many? I'd suggest that once a week should be your maximum, but it will come as no surprise that the answer depends on what you're ordering, where from and how much you're eating.
Burger Kings
Rejoice, burger lovers! According to a new report from the World Resource Institute (WRI), those who live in the developed world can still eat delicious burgers and not entirely destroy the planet— as long as they make sure to cap consumption at about two normal-sized patties per week.
A Whopper Of A Report: Only One Burger A Week Is Best For Your Health And The Planet. The study in Lancet recommending a plant-based diet comes from nutrition, agriculture and environmental experts recommending a "Great Food Transformation" by 2050.
“If you really enjoy burgers, eating them occasionally is perfectly fine as part of a healthy balanced lifestyle, even if you are trying to lose weight, because the impact of one or two burgers over time can be minimized if you are doing other healthy things that counter its effects,” adds Dr.
High-temperature cooking methods, such as grilling, can cause the formation of heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, compounds that might increase cancer risk, according to the National Cancer Institute. Keep the flame low, and flip burgers frequently to prevent these substances from forming.
If it is refrigerated promptly (within two hours at room temperature; or one hour if surrounding temperature is above 90 °F), it can be safely kept for about three or four days stored in the refrigerator (40 F or less).
Whichever type of burger you choose, keep cooked patties at 4-ounces with modestly portioned toppings to keep your meal on the healthier side. Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition.
Because of their starch content, french fries are a high-glycemic food, posing a cardiovascular and metabolic health risk. However, they are high in fibre, water, and nutrients, which are beneficial. Therefore, limiting them and viewing them as an unhealthy once-in-a-while treat rather than a staple may be wise.