With the increase in the number of fast food restaurants, it is high time people take more care on their intake. Added to it, they are more exposed to toxins from internal as well as external sources and therefore, should be more watchful on their health. Obesity is one of the problems that are looming large on majority of the people, who are becoming increasingly aware of its consequences and hence dieting has become an indispensable part of their lives. Even those who are of correct weight can adopt dieting by taking the right food at the right time. A balanced food is very important to maintain a healthy diet and it is evident that a balanced diet should contain the essential vitamins and minerals that are required for the control of weight and metabolism. Diet food includes vitamins such as B2, B3, B5, B6 and vitamin C, chromium, manganese and zinc. Nutritionists say that to follow a diet food, it is advisable to follow the food pyramid whose results are enormous and instantaneous.Grains form the base of the food pyramid since they are rich in dietary fiber, have high energy content and are a good source of nutrients that assist in metabolism. Depending upon the amount of calories to be shed, grains should be taken at least four to five ounces every day. Those who sincerely want to lose weight can never afford to neglect vegetables, either taken cooked or raw. Vegetables are a rich source of many vitamins and minerals like vitamin B complex, vitamins C, E and K to fight against vitamin deficiency. In fact, if vegetables are taken regularly, it lowers the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. A diet food can never be complete without fruits. The most appealing factor of fruits is that they are taken raw and are hundred percent natural. Fruits have low calorie and are rich in dietary fiber. Apart from preventing the vitamin deficiency, fruits serve as the ideal food for those who are on weight control and yet want to stay healthy. Occasionally, for snacks and to fill the stomach, nuts and seeds can be consumed because they contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals and fiber that help in metabolism. Diet food does not mean that lovers of non vegetarian need to go all green- there are lean meats or lean chicken and fish that contain protein, essential minerals and vitamins that aid in metabolism.Fat or oil is in the peak of the pyramid, which has to be avoided as much as possible, since fats and oils tend to drastically increase the total intake of calories and thus nullify the very purpose of taking diet food.

Some of the best foods found in America are due to the influence of various cultures. There are many cuisines to choose from and some of the finest Italian restaurants and best pizza chains are found in America. The standard of food in American is good and each city has its own particular kind of cuisine. Cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco have the most fabulous restaurants. Boston and New Orleans are known for seafood and Miami for Spanish flavors. New York steaks are a favorite among the visitors and almost any type of food is available due to the mixture of a variety of cultures. Boston people consume a large quantity of sea foods like lobster and crab and since most of the restaurants in Boston are owned by the families there, the standard of food is guaranteed to be of high quality. There are a very large range of food varieties at very affordable prices, not only in big cites of America but also down south in Louisiana and South Carolina. American food boasts for value for money because it caters to the needs of all kinds of people who want a square meal as well as a smaller budget meal, without compromising on the taste. Even for people who are on diet, special foods are served. The burgers are offered with fries and high calorie foods like fried French onions, bacon and cheese. The American desserts are legendary like the Pecan pie and Mississippi -mud pie. Tourists in the Deep South can enjoy the gumbo soup and jambalay. New England’s specialty foods are simple and of high quality, too. Similarly, New Haven is known for creating hamburgers as back as a century ago and is a necessity in an American food. Maine is reputed for its lobster and exports them too. San Francisco celebrates a crab season since it has some of the world’s best crabs. California offers a range of foods including artichoke, avocadoes, goat’s cheese and other green produce. An additional bonus is the Napa valley wine which is the best wine that the state has to offer. So, America has the variety of cuisine that is diverse and differs from state to state that is unique to them.But American food is notorious for processed foods and junk foods are quite common in America. It is an understatement that junk funds have very bad effects on the health of a person. It is a bad habit that has to be controlled. America is mainly responsible for spreading the fast food culture and the result is that a majority of the American people are obese today. But the consoling news is that there is an increasing awareness among the people about the harmful effects of fast food.

Generally, the tendency of the human being is to choose the easier option and fast food restaurants cash in on this lethargy of people. It is quite true that we live in a fast paced world and do not have time to leisurely choose a well planned diet. But, when we look at the harmful effects of fast foods, it becomes highly necessary to plan and cook a healthy food at home. Invariably, almost all the fast food items are rich in fat, high in calorie, over processed killing the essential nutrients, and served with a lot of artificial flavoring, coloring and preservatives. The consequences of such things are obesity, depletion of resistance to insulin, heart disease, accelerated aging, and many more health related problems. The bad effect of fast foods is more on growing children than in adults since their bodies and brain do not easily adapt to the elimination and processing of harmful chemicals that are present in the fast foods. Significantly, fast foods have low fiber content which is essential in our daily food for the elimination of toxins and safeguard against the onset of diseases. The unhygienic conditions under which the fast foods are prepared also contribute to the harmful effects. Fast foods are preferred by people due to obvious reasons like they can be eaten fast, they are cheaper and people find it tasty and filling. Even those who sincerely want to reduce their waist line find it tempting to grab a fast food once or twice a week but, all the same, it is not good for health. Normally, fast foods are prepared with hydrogenated oil which is artificially made to increase its shelf life and effectively produces high levels of Trans fats which is dangerous for the human life and contributes to blood clogging in the artery. Another social aspect is employing underage workers for the fast food restaurants. If fast food can be avoided in its entirety, it is a good option to take foods that do not contain fat like onions, lettuce, tomato and mustard and low fat yogurt and at least balance the food.  The urge to eat fast food can be dampened if some tips are followed. Eating a little before going out will tend to resist taking fast food because a fully empty stomach tempts fast food. Alternatively, a small and healthy snack can be carried around while going out. Instead of taking a fast food that makes the stomach quite heavy, it is better to take five to six small meals every day. Looking at all the aspects, it finally boils down to the fact that fast food is undoubtedly harmful to the body. So, if health is important, it is sane to avoid fast food.