Is KFC Bad For You?
Also Known As: Kentucky Fried Chicken
Short answer
It is impossible to eat a healthy, well-balanced meal at KFC. Diners who choose to eat here should consider their experience an occasional indulgence, anyone else should cut their losses and construct a meal with less than 400 calories and 15 grams of fat.
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
As a subsidiary of Yum! Brands with over 17,000 restaurants worldwide, Kentucky Fried Chicken is an American tradition. Even though it removed the “fried” from its name and rebranded itself as KFC, this eatery does not pretend to be healthy – making a breakdown of its unabashedly, unhealthy menu items readily available online.
The truth is, people line up at KFC for the taste - the name change and menu diversification simply provide committed diners with the denial they need in order to indulge. A case in point is the recently released “Double” – a sandwich consisting of bacon and cheese wedged between two pieces of crispy fried chicken, which advertises the health benefits associated with eliminating the bread.
At this destination spot for fried chicken, very few natural ingredients – three of 29 to be exact – go into the process of seasoning and battering. Moreover, the chicken is raised with the benefit of both antibiotics and growth hormones. An obvious concern is the fat content, which pervades KFC’s menu. Although a fried chicken thigh may only have 290 calories, a full 189 of these come from fat. A grilled chicken thigh doesn’t fare much better, deriving 90 of its 170 calories from unhealthy fats.
However, the high fat content is only one unhealthy element of the food at KFC. Perhaps the greater culprit is sodium, which finds its way abundantly into all menu items, with the possible exception of the corn on the cob. In addition to contributing to high blood pressure and kidney disease, the toxicity associated with the heavy metal in refined table salt has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. While there are many menu items which weigh in at under 400 calories and 15 grams of fat – including an original menu breast (minus the skin!), and grilled chicken wings, drumsticks or thighs – all are extremely high in sodium, as are all side salads, dressings, and croutons.
If you like what KFC has to offer, confine your indulgence to a rare treat. If you must eat there, let the “400 calories, 15 grams of fat” rule guide your choice - remove the skin where necessary, and skip the soda and dessert.
Possible short-term side effects
- water-retention
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dehydration
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lethargy
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headache from msg
Possible long-term side effects
- heart attack
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stroke
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kidney disease
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high blood pressure
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diabetes
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high cholesterol
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obesity
alzheimer’s disease
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cancer
Ingredients to be aware of
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Written by Healthy Living 35
Published on: 01-07-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Healthy Living 35
Published on: 01-07-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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