It seems that nowadays nothing is more American than fast food; however, the "grand-opening" of a fast food joint, such as McDonald's, is a regular occurrence despite which part of the world you live in.
For example, Chinese cuisine, known for the essence of fine eating, has yielded to the rising popularity of fast food chains. In fact, residents of China are more likely to be seen munching on French fries or a Big Mac than Americans and Australians.
According to a survey -- which involved more than 14,000 adults in 28 countries -- researchers found that 41 percent of those surveyed who live in China eat in a fast food restaurant once a week, compared with 35 percent of people in the United States and 30 percent of people in Australia.
China is "Lovin' It"
McDonald's has most certainly had a profound affect on China. When the first McDonald's opened in Beijing a dozen years ago, 40,000 people lined up to observe a Big Mac and get their picture taken with the infamous Ronald McDonald. Not to mention:
Business Wire December 21, 2004
It's bad enough that 35 percent of us in the United States eat at a fast food restaurant at least once a week, but now we learn that over 40 percent of the Chinese eat at a fast food restaurant in the same timeframe. This is particularly concerning as McDonald's has only been present in China for a mere 12 years.
Also, where foreign brands in China have often met with more frustration than profit, fast food amounts to a lucrative exception. Major brands have enjoyed striking and visible success, carving into what now stands as a $48 billion-a-year Chinese fast food industry.
However, what people in China, the United States and anywhere around the world must realize is that fast food is damaging your body and your health. It is in processed foods, like the ones you find on the menu at McDonald's, where the artery-clogging trans fat lives. You see, eating trans fats can lead to a major increase in adverse health conditions including:
Therefore, the key to winning the battle against toxic fast food restaurants is to simply not visit them.
I understand that with today's fast-paced society this can be a difficult task for busy families, however, there are some healthy solutions for families (and individuals) on the go.
You can be a bit more proactive, as, after all, it is no mystery that you will need to eat lunch during the day, so plan ahead and make healthy choices. One such solution is Whey Protein with Aminogen, a completely nutritious convenience food.
Although whole foods are best, if you don't have time to prepare your own food and find yourself reaching for fast food, consider Whey Protein with Aminogen instead. When I am out of town I frequently find this a better option than purchasing low quality fast food, which is actually far more expensive than a serving of Whey Protein with Aminogen.
Also, if you haven't yet watched Super Size Me I would strongly encourage you to do so as it will help you more fully appreciate the challenges that our obsession with fast food has on our health. One of the little known, but major, problems with eating at McDonald's, or any other fast food outlet, is that you are decreasing your input of direct energy from the sun, or biophotons.
If you are interested in reading more about why fast food chains like McDonald's are significant contributors to worldwide poor health I suggest reading the book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. In this book you will find compelling insight on how under-trained the work force in the fast food industry is and how the widespread corporate conformity discourages the very individualism that brought these giants their initial success.
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