Can `iconic` Big Mac put your health at risk?

The health experts at the Fast Food Menu Price have studied exactly what happens to you and your body an hour after you’ve tucked into one of the nation’s favourite foods on the go – a McDonald’s Big Mac.

They went on: “We have removed all artificial trans-fat from our menu, the iconic Big Mac contains no artificial colours or flavours and the bun does not contain any corn syrup”. Our brains have been wired to prefer high-calorie foods (sorry, dieters) and the Big Mac provides these calories in abundance – an average Big Mac contains 540 calories, which cause our blood sugar level to shoot up.

The bun’s high levels of high-fructose corn syrup and sodium makes the body crave more.

The sodium levels in a Big Mac (970 milligrams) are also a cause for concern, since the amount in one Big Mac is 42 percent of the daily recommended salt limit. Things start off looking fairly positive in the first 10 minutes of eating one – aside from the sudden surge in blood sugar levels – the junk food activates the reward system in our brain, which releases chemicals like neurotransmitter dopamine that make us feel happier. Whether you are drunk, peckish, on a long road trip, or in a foreign country with the golden arches acting as your only source of home comfort, the chances are you’ve had a Big Mac.

40 minutes Are you still feeling hungry after just having a Big Mac? “Mainly you crave some more because you don’t think you’ve had enough… but I don’t think your body is naturally going to give you [that] response”, said Ms Tew. 40 minutes in, and you want more food.

This overload also makes your heart work harder, causing high blood pressure that can eventually lead to heart diseases and strokes. The so-called facts in this image are misleading and bear no resemblance to the Big Mac available to customers in the UK. This is because the fat from a Big Mac can slow down how food is emptied from the stomach and digested into the bloodstream.

After 60 minutes: The body typically takes 24 to 72 hours to digest food, but burgers can take more time because they are greasier.

According to the information from fastfoodmenuprice.com, different studies have linked trans fat to heart diseases, obesity, cancer and diabetes.

The graphic concludes by advising diners to only indulge in Big Macs occasionally, stating that the ingredients can cause serious harm to your body, especially when consuming them on a regular basis.

IBTimes United Kingdom has reached out to McDonald’s U.S. and is awaiting comment.

However, a representative for McDonald’s said, “We have been displaying nutritional information on our menu items for over 30 years”.