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Fat: The Big Mac has about 28 grams of fat according to McDonalds. About 50% of the fat is saturated, the same kind linked to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. And of course, the Big Mac does have its share of the unhealthiest fat, trans fat. Mouthwatering perfection starts with two 100% pure beef patties and Big Mac sauce sandwiched between a sesame seed bun. It's topped off with pickles, crisp shredded lettuce, finely chopped onion and American cheese. Get a Big Mac now with Mobile Order & Pay on iOS or Android. Order on the App, and pass the line with a tap with Mobile Order & Pay. A Big Mac has three slices of white bread in it, which in the U.S. Are laced with high-fructose corn syrup, another simple carbohydrate. It therefore seems reasonable to suggest it may drive up.
Short answer
Arby's is additives, HFCS, and 'Natural' flavors galore. Looking out for both your short-term and long-term health, we recommend making your own sandwich from home.
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
View Full Grading SystemCategory 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
You've probably opted for an Arby's sandwich instead of a McDonald's Big Mac, not only because it tastes good. The main reason would be that it feels much lighter and healthier than even a salad at McDonald's. After viewing an online Arby's menu at first glance, it's nothing too unhealthy sounding. You've got signature roast beef gyros. Turkey clubs, sliders--every main food was coupled with a brief description of ingredients that sound like anything you could easily find at Walmart. What could go wrong with a sandwich shop? The ingredients, of course.
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
The Angus beef, an ingredient found in a few entrees, contained something unfamiliar: hydrolyzed soy protein. According to livestrong.com, it's a way to boil the soy protein in sulfuric acid - a chemical substance not meant for ingesting. Of course, in the process of hydrolysis, other chemicals are added to neutralize the compound, but that only adds to the fact that after eating this, you're also consuming several unhealthy chemical byproducts.
Likewise, hydrolyzed soy protein is also code for MSG. Bring on the headaches, the migraines, and the neurotoxicity.
Arby's is also not free from the enemy of weight-loss progress itself: high fructose corn syrup. In the Smoky Q Sauce of the Arby-Q, this is the condiment's first ingredient. Several sauces tend to contain high fructose corn syrup in them, unfortunately.
And it doesn't stop at the sauces, either. The Breakfast Biscuit's third ingredient is hydrogenated palm kernel oil. This is a fancy cover-up for trans-fat, as indicated by the term 'hydrogenated.' The biscuit further contains DATEM, which we have learned has been linked to heart fibrosis in animals.
Natural and Smoke Flavor
And lastly, across the board we saw several foods tainted with 'natural' (which we learned is very vague and can include anything the manufacturers want to use) or natural smoke flavor: the Arby-Q, ranch dressing, the french toast sticks, several of the desserts, the gyro sauce. Most of these are sweets and/or condiments, which you probably won't be eating a lot of anyway.
But with things like the Arby-Q, a popular item, we've got to analyze some more. Smoke flavoring is an ingredient in this food as well. What on earth is smoke flavoring, and is it safe?
According to nutrionfacts.org, we don't have much to worry about. List of browsers for mac. Actual smoked foods (grilled foods) are more carcinogenic than natural smoke flavor. However, it's still carcinogenic, so moderation is extremely important.
Calories
Let's not forget, calories. If you've looked at an Arby's sandwich or burger, it's pretty big. A medium sized Beef N Cheddar Mid has about 1700 mg of sodium, 560 calories (more cals than a Big Mac), and 1.5 grams of trans fat. Normally, we see 0% for trans fat, but hey, at least they were honest.
When looking through the nutritional info on the menu, It didn't surprise us that the majority of items were over 300 calories. Calories, after all, shouldn't be an indicator of how good or bad food is--alone at least.
However, our fancies were tickled when we discovered that a few sauces, including the honey mustard dipping sauce, added over 100 more calories to the Prime-Cut Chicken Tenders. Makes you wonder what they're putting in your sauces (HFCS, food dyes, soybean oil—the first ingredient, which is weird)
When it comes to Arby's food, it's important to remember that it's still fast food. It's still packed with preservatives and additives and fat. Once in a while, it's fine to treat yourself, but nothing is more nutritious than a healthy, home-cooked meal, no 'natural flavors'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
You've probably opted for an Arby's sandwich instead of a McDonald's Big Mac, not only because it tastes good. The main reason would be that it feels much lighter and healthier than even a salad at McDonald's. After viewing an online Arby's menu at first glance, it's nothing too unhealthy sounding. You've got signature roast beef gyros. Turkey clubs, sliders--every main food was coupled with a brief description of ingredients that sound like anything you could easily find at Walmart. What could go wrong with a sandwich shop? The ingredients, of course.
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
The Angus beef, an ingredient found in a few entrees, contained something unfamiliar: hydrolyzed soy protein. According to livestrong.com, it's a way to boil the soy protein in sulfuric acid - a chemical substance not meant for ingesting. Of course, in the process of hydrolysis, other chemicals are added to neutralize the compound, but that only adds to the fact that after eating this, you're also consuming several unhealthy chemical byproducts.
Likewise, hydrolyzed soy protein is also code for MSG. Bring on the headaches, the migraines, and the neurotoxicity.
Arby's is also not free from the enemy of weight-loss progress itself: high fructose corn syrup. In the Smoky Q Sauce of the Arby-Q, this is the condiment's first ingredient. Several sauces tend to contain high fructose corn syrup in them, unfortunately.
And it doesn't stop at the sauces, either. The Breakfast Biscuit's third ingredient is hydrogenated palm kernel oil. This is a fancy cover-up for trans-fat, as indicated by the term 'hydrogenated.' The biscuit further contains DATEM, which we have learned has been linked to heart fibrosis in animals.
Natural and Smoke Flavor
And lastly, across the board we saw several foods tainted with 'natural' (which we learned is very vague and can include anything the manufacturers want to use) or natural smoke flavor: the Arby-Q, ranch dressing, the french toast sticks, several of the desserts, the gyro sauce. Most of these are sweets and/or condiments, which you probably won't be eating a lot of anyway.
But with things like the Arby-Q, a popular item, we've got to analyze some more. Smoke flavoring is an ingredient in this food as well. What on earth is smoke flavoring, and is it safe?
According to nutrionfacts.org, we don't have much to worry about. List of browsers for mac. Actual smoked foods (grilled foods) are more carcinogenic than natural smoke flavor. However, it's still carcinogenic, so moderation is extremely important.
Calories
Let's not forget, calories. If you've looked at an Arby's sandwich or burger, it's pretty big. A medium sized Beef N Cheddar Mid has about 1700 mg of sodium, 560 calories (more cals than a Big Mac), and 1.5 grams of trans fat. Normally, we see 0% for trans fat, but hey, at least they were honest.
When looking through the nutritional info on the menu, It didn't surprise us that the majority of items were over 300 calories. Calories, after all, shouldn't be an indicator of how good or bad food is--alone at least.
However, our fancies were tickled when we discovered that a few sauces, including the honey mustard dipping sauce, added over 100 more calories to the Prime-Cut Chicken Tenders. Makes you wonder what they're putting in your sauces (HFCS, food dyes, soybean oil—the first ingredient, which is weird)
When it comes to Arby's food, it's important to remember that it's still fast food. It's still packed with preservatives and additives and fat. Once in a while, it's fine to treat yourself, but nothing is more nutritious than a healthy, home-cooked meal, no 'natural flavors'
Possible short-term side effects
Is The Big Mac Bad For You
- headaches
- heartburn
- indigestion
- nausea
Possible long-term side effects
- obesity
- high blood pressure
- stroke
- heart attack
- heart diseases
- type ii diabetes
- cancer
Ingredients to be aware of
- 'natural flavors'
- hydrolyzed soy protein
- calories
- sodium
- more ingredients can be found at http://cds.arbys.com/pdfs/nutrition/usmenuitems_ingrdnts.pdf
Healthier alternatives
- home-cooked sandwich using fresh ingredients
Mcdonald's Big Mac Bad For You
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Written by Blossom O | 10-10-2016
10-10-2016
Written by Blossom O
Suggest improvement or correction
Is One Big Mac Bad For You
