Health problems persist in the fast food industry in South Africa today. Many people prefer to eat fast food or takeout instead of purchasing groceries and preparing healthy foods at home. Although many fast food brands claim that their products are healthy, they have been shown to contain high levels of sugar and fat, both of which can be very taxing on your overall health and vitality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Trans fats are created during food processing and are commonly found in pastries, crackers, and cookies, to name a few. This type of fat is unhealthy in any amount. It is said to increase the chances of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Excessive intake of fast food increases your chances of gaining weight and you are very likely to fall victim to obesity, putting stress on your heart and lungs. It is possible that you will feel short of breath. Some fast food franchises offer substitute or complementary products that appear to be the healthiest approach. KFC has implemented coleslaw and mashed potatoes into their menus for years, providing a "healthier" alternative to their customers. Detailed analysis: Many fast food franchises offer "healthier" alternatives to customers to alleviate unhealthy choices, such as salads on the spot of chips fried in unhealthy oils. Some franchises promote choosing healthier options by decreasing prices for these healthier choices and providing sugar-free drinks instead of just high-sugar drinks. Fast food industries would have to create healthy meal portions and increase the cost of purchasing unhealthy options, making it more difficult to eat unhealthy. In this way, the low-income segment of society will naturally begin to move towards a healthier approach (e.g. buying cheese and bread to consume homemade sandwiches). Although there is promotion of healthy alternatives, the problem that persists is the frequent purchase of the brand's products. The frequency of purchases by customers due to their laziness and the low prices of fast food meals put consumers in danger by increasing their sugar/insulin levels and consequently their blood pressure. This can lead to improper management of the body causing heart disease and possibly cardiac death due to the unnatural increase in sugar in the system. Along with rising sugar levels, without exercising or burning excess calories, obesity begins to take its toll. High levels of trans fats, sugar, sodium and saturated fats are used at higher levels, replacing recommended amounts in an attempt to add flavor to their products, in turn making them more appetizing/enjoyable (increasing productivity). Increasing the frequency with which someone eats is not a problem: what they eat is what matters. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Consistent or frequent consumption of healthy foods provides the body with stable and reliable levels of energy and minerals. Constantly consuming unhealthy alternatives causes the body's energy levels to rise, giving the candidate unexpectedly high energy levels and then plummeting to lower levels. Takeout restaurants should include balanced food items (such as complimentary vegetables or water) that help the body regulate sugar levels. Using natural oils or healthy substitute oils (like coconut oil) when cooking will greatly reduce unhealthy fats consumed by.