Although a new infographic demonstrates how awful McDonald’s Big Macs can be, no one would ever mistake them for nutritious food.
The image from the website Fast Food Menu Price illustrates what the Big Mac does to your body an hour after you eat it.
The infamous burger, among other things, spikes your blood sugar, dehydrates you, and makes you hungry again just 40 minutes after you eat it.
Here is what to anticipate:.
Within the first 10 minutes, the Big Mac (and its 540 calories) raises your blood sugar to unhealthy levels. By releasing “feel-good” chemicals like the neurotransmitter dopamine, junk food, like the Big Mac, activates the brain’s reward system.
Your chances of developing compulsive eating are increased by the process, which functions similarly to the sensation you would experience after ingesting a drug like cocaine.
After 20 minutes: The high-fructose corn syrup and salt in the Big Mac’s bun are both addictive and make your body crave more of them.
After 30 minutes: Dehydration may result from the burger’s 970 milligrams of sodium. You might mistakenly think you need more food because dehydration symptoms resemble hunger cues. Both your heart and kidneys work harder to pump blood through your veins as you struggle to eliminate the salt. This may result in high blood pressure, which may ultimately cause heart disease and stroke.
After 40 minutes, hunger strikes once more. When you eat a high-calorie meal, your body’s insulin response may cause your glucose levels to drop, making you want to eat more. Your GI system quickly absorbs the high-fructose corn syrup in the bun, resulting in an increase in insulin levels and increased hunger.
60 minutes later: Normally, it takes your body 24 to 72 hours to digest food, but since burgers are greasier, it may take longer. Up to three days may pass before you feel like eating another Big Mac.
Despite being unexpected, the infographic is actually fairly accurate, according to registered dietitian nutritionist Beth Warren, author of Living a Real Life With Real Food. There are several reasons to be cautious when eating a Big Mac, the author says, not just one ingredient.
The immediate response to eating a Big Mac differs from person to person, according to Lisa Moskovitz, CEO of NewYork Nutrition Group and certified dietitian nutritionist, who also claims that the infographic is accurate but “somewhat exaggerated,” in an interview with Yahoo Health. ”.
Moskovitz asserts that, among other exaggerations, the claim that your blood sugar will rise to “abnormal levels” is not entirely true. The body reacts to insulin and blood sugar in various ways, she says.
It may take longer for carbohydrates to be converted into the bloodstream’s supply of glucose because a Big Mac also contains a sizable amount of fat.
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She also says that each person differs, as do other aspects like daily activity patterns, medical history, and your current level of hydration, in terms of how much a Big Mac can dehydrate you.
Both experts concur that while you shouldn’t include the Big Mac on a regular basis in your diet, you can indulge in it occasionally. Warren says, “I usually advise my patients to treat themselves once per week with one option.
“However, that would amount to more than one cheat option due to the abundance of nutritional health concerns with the Big Mac. ”.
