In this blog post, we will discuss the impact of fast food on your health, whether it is cheaper to eat healthy at home or eat fast food, and the easiest way to lose weight. At the end of this blog post, I hope to show you, the reader, how Buy and Sell Fitness can help you on your journey to improved health and lifestyle habits.
In 2015, the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that eating out, whether at a sit-down restaurant or drive-thru, lead to an “increased total energy, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium intake.” When you are eating out rather than eating at home, you aren’t taking in as many nutritional benefits as you should.
Still not convinced? A study published in the journal of Environmental Health Perspectives, found that the chemicals Phthalates and bisphenol A or BPA, found in most processed and packaged food, had a negative impact on human health. Don’t know what these chemicals, really, are? Hint: they are used to make plastic more flexible. The study found that the consumption of phthalates, commonly found in fast food, may be linked to hormonal imbalances and adverse reproductive outcomes in women.
Eating healthy means eliminating fast food. This can also be a helpful financial decision.
U.S. News lists dining out as one of the most common expenses that destroys our budgets. Eating out, it seems, costs more than eating at home. For those who say they don’t have enough time to cook or that buying healthy food is too expensive, here are some pointers.
A blog post on the website D’marge lists 6 ways to eat healthy on a budget. Buying food at farmer’s markets, purchasing versatile foods like quinoa that can be cooked in different ways and freezing food are all ways you can meet your budget.
Meal prep is also one of the most effective ways to cut costs. Prepare all your meals and snacks for the week, all at once. Not only will you save money but you will also save time! Prepping your meals is a great way to keep up consistently healthy eating habits.
And if your goal is to lose weight, introducing a fitness regime to your improved diet is the way to make it happen. You lose weight when you expend more calories than you intake. Adding cardio routines to your fitness routine can help boost your metabolism for up to 24 hours. Remember to add bursts of intense effort to your walks, whether you are on a treadmill or at the park.
Strength training will help you burn up extra calories before they turn into fat.
In conclusion, now you’ve seen how eating healthy at home is both the cheaper and healthier alternative to eating fast food. We have also discussed how planning a diet and exercise regime that burns more calories that you intake is really the key to weight loss.
See the 2015-2016 dietary guidelines for Americans here.
At Buy and Sell Fitness you can find a variety of exercise equipment that can help you on your journey. See our inventory here. We sell treadmills, ellipticals, spin bikes, strength equipment and more.
Sources:
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v70/n1/abs/ejcn2015104a.html
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/15-10803/
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/15/health/fast-food-phthalates-endocrine-disruptors/
http://nutritionstripped.com/batch-cooking-101/
http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/slideshows/11-expenses-destroying-your-budget/6
http://www.dmarge.com/2016/04/eating-healthy-on-a-budget.html
http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-tips/best-weight-loss-exercises
