4 Reasons To Avoid Buying McDonald’s (And 3 Better Alternatives)

McDonald's exterior stock photo
tofumax / iStock.com

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Modern life is often very hectic and fast-paced, and after a long day at work or between side hustles, grabbing a quick bite of fast food seems like the easiest way to have a meal before getting back to work or settling in for the night. This is one of the reasons why McDonald’s is the single most financially successful fast food franchise in America, pulling in over $50 billion in profits per year.

Despite its popularity, McDonald’s is not a restaurant to be relied upon regularly, as it comes with a Big Mac-sized stack of health issues, per Medical News Today.

Why You Should Avoid McDonald’s

  • You Spend More Money on Food More Often: Fast food such as McDonald’s, with its high fat content, can damage insulin sensitivity, which leads to binge eating. Fast food lights up reward centers in the human brain, leading McDonald’s eaters to get hungrier after a meal even faster, thus needing to spend even more money on food despite just paying for a meal from the golden arches.
  • Heart Disease: Because of the high salt content in a typical McDonald’s meal, the FDA has asserted that the fast food giant will increase its customers’ blood pressure, which then leads to heart attacks and heart disease.
  • Obesity: McDonald’s food is overloaded with above-average calorie levels, leading very easily to weight gain, which can then lead to obesity (with obesity then leading to several problematic health issues).
  • You Can Eventually Spend More on Unintended Consequences: Eating too much at McDonald’s can lead to the above-noted weight gain, as well as medical issues — both of which would force you to purchase better-fitting clothes and pay higher medical bills.

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Alternatives to McDonalds

  • Subway: The famous sandwich chain offers both sandwiches and salads in the same time it takes to receive an order at McDonald’s, but with leaner meats, whole-grain breads and plenty of fresh veggies.
  • Chipotle: Thanks to its customizable meals, Chipotle patrons can easily sub in lean protein meats such as chicken, add in beans for fiber, or toss in fresh vegetables to complete bowls or burritos.
  • Panera Bread: Want quickly-made salads, grilled chicken or sandwiches on the go that are all low calorie and full of whole grains, fruits and vegetables? Panera Bread is the place to go.

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