When in a rush, hungry, and need to grab a quick bite to eat, going to a fast-food establishment can seem like the best solution. Sound like a familiar situation? When feeling stressed, hangry and in a hurry, we don't have time to sit and question the ins and outs of the food we order. Well, the Center for Food Safety did that for us... and the results are eye-opening.

The Center for Food Safety analyzed the beef used in burgers at the top fast-food burger joints. Out of 25 restaurants, 23 did not claim to use beef that was raised without the use of antibiotics.

An antibiotic is a drug used to fight and kill off dangerous microorganisms that cause infection. Like humans, animals who are exposed to antibiotics repeatedly can build antibiotic resistance, making the drug useless and ineffective. Exposure to antibiotics, even small, over time leaves an animal unable to fight off infections. This is then carried on to you, the consumer. Now not only are you building up your own antibiotic resistance but could contract whatever infection the animal extracted along the way.

Antibiotics, despite being easily accessible, should not be taken unless completely necessary. They work to kill or prevent the growth of all bacteria in the gut. This means all good and bad bacteria get completely wiped out in hopes to kill off that one strain that may be causing you to be sick. Your gut is its own ecosystem and it is always important to keep replenishing the good bacteria by taking probiotics, especially crucial after consuming antibiotics. Have you ever experienced abnormal constipation after taking antibiotics for just a couple of days? The imbalance in gut microbiota that antibiotics cause directly affects how you digest food, ultimately slowing it down. This is also happening when unknowingly consuming small amounts of antibiotics over a long period of time. Always be sure to take a daily high-quality probiotic, especially after finishing physician-prescribed antibiotics.
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McDonald's

Burger King

Sonic

Jack in the Box

Hardee's

Whataburger

Carl's Jr

Five Guys

Culver's

Steak 'n Shake

In-N-Out Burger

White Castle

Checkers

Crystal

Smashburger
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The biggest thing you can do is avoid restaurants and products that refuse to disclose whether or not their beef is sourced from cows raised without antibiotics. Whether you are out to eat or at the grocery store this is something to keep in mind when making Betr decisions! When in doubt, substitute beef for grilled chicken or veggies in its place!

This is where meal planning really comes into play. Avoid resorting to fast food altogether by having your meals and snacks planned out in advance and leaving little to question. Always have a snack on deck, like fruit and nut mix, when out and about to easily eat on the go!  

Price, A. (2018, October 17). SCORECARD: Only 2 of 25 Burger Chains Get 'A' For Antibiotic Policy. Retrieved from https://draxe.com/antibiotics-in-beef/?rs_oid_rd=740654230689779&utm_campaign=20181017_week42_morningkit_curated&utm_source=smart blast&utm_medium=email