Certainly, eating lunch or dinner at restaurants is an entertaining experience, but it can represent an unworthy risk for our health. Although some food establishments offer healthier choices, dining out too frequently might not be the smartest choice in the long term.
Eating out gathers several factors that make obesity a likely possibility, for example, we usually eat larger portions when dining out and the menu offers mostly meals rich in calories and fat. Following a diet high in calories and fat may result in overweight, developing dangerous health conditions such as high cholesterol, heart disease, or hypertension over the years.
Moreover, eating out opens the possibility of getting sick because of a bacteria or virus. The food at some restaurants could be in bad condition or the kitchen at these establishments may not meet hygiene regulations. Gastrointestinal diseases and infections such as Salmonellosis or Escherichia Coli are among the most common health risks, affecting millions of people every year.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
These are caused by viruses, bacteria, or even dairy products rich in fat. Mainly, they affect the stomach and bowels, causing the following symptoms.
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
Salmonellosis
It is caused by a bacteria present in eggs, poultry, beef meat, and some unwashed vegetables. The bacteria is known as Salmonella and causes the following effects which can last from 4 to 7 days.
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Abdominal cramps
Escherichia Coli
Consuming contaminated foods such as unpasteurized milk or raw meat are frequent causes of this infection. According to the World Health Organization, these are its most common symptoms.
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Fever
Cooking at home. A worthy effort
Eating out truly is a faster and easier option, but it requires caution from our part. Although it’s undeniably convenient, our health must always be our number one priority. Eating at home provides us not only the chance to control how much we eat, but also how healthy we do, allowing us to better take care of ourselves.
