A new infographic reportedly shows the effects one McDonald’s Big Mac has on a person’s body over one hour.
The graphic, titled “What Happens One Hour After Eating a Big Mac,” was posted online by Fast Food Menu Price.
It claims to detail what happens to the body after 10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 minutes.
- First 10 minutes–Our brains prefer high-calorie foods: Our brains evolved during a time when food was scarce, so we became adept at choosing high-calorie foods. A regular Big Mac (with cheese and sauce) contains 540 calories and raises your blood sugar to abnormal levels.Junk food triggers your brain’s reward system by releasing a surge of ‘feel-good’ chemicals – such as the neurotransmitter dopamine – which induce feelings of pleasure. This process works in a similar way to that of drugs such as cocaine and contributes to the likelihood of compulsive eating.
- After 20 minutes–Addictive sugars: Did you know that a Big Mac bun contains high levels of high-fructose corn syrup and sodium? Both ingredients are addictive and therefore make your body crave more of them. These ingredients are also harmful and can cause obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
- After 30 minutes –Sodium attack on your body: A Big Mac contains 970 milligrams of sodium. This huge amount of salt can result in dehydration. With symptoms that closely mimic those of hunger, it’s easy for dehydration to trick you into thinking you need to go back for another helping of food.Ingesting too much sodium makes it hard for your kidneys to excrete salt. To try and flush the excess salt out of your system, your body then draws water from surrounding tissues. This fluid buildup means that your heart must work harder to pump blood. This causes high blood pressure and can ultimately lead to heart disease and stroke.
- After 40 minutes –Craving more! Do you ever still feel hungry after just having eaten a Big Mac? This is because you have lost control of your blood sugar, making you crave even more fast food.The first time you consume a high-calorie meal, your insulin response can reduce your glucose levels making you want to eat more. The high-fructose corn syrup in the Big Mac bun is quickly absorbed by the GI tract, causing insulin spikes and even greater hunger pangs.
- After 60 minutes –Slow digestion: Normally the body takes about 24 to 72 hours to digest food. However, hamburgers take a lot more time to digest because they are greasier. It can take more than three days to fully digest a Big Mac.Also, it takes approximately 51 days to digest trans fat. A Big Mac contains 1.5 grams of trans fat. Different studies have proved that trans fats can be linked to heart disease, obesity, cancer and diabetes. If you want to enjoy a Big Mac, try to keep it an occasional indulgence. The burger’s ingredients can cause serious harm to your body, especially when you consume them on a regular basis.
Fast Food Menu Price also says you can eat better at fast food places like McDonald’s, if you order the right thing.
