Are Fajitas Bad For You?
Also Known As: grilled meat, usually served with a tortilla
Short answer
Fajitas can be bad for you - but if you make them at home and don't add too many fattening ingredients, they can also be healthy in several ways. Due to carcinogenic chemicals that arise from grilling meats, however, fajitas should not be eaten on a regular basis.
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.
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
Fajitas can be hard to define, but generally speaking, the term "fajita" refers to grilled meat stuffed inside a tortilla (usually flour). Other ingredients may be added as well, such as lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and vegetables. Due to the wide variance in possible ways to make a fajita, giving an exact answer as to whether or not a fajita is nutritionally bad for you is impossible. However, there are some things that we should consider before we order a fajita - both in terms of nutrition and otherwise.
First, in terms of nutrition, fajitas tend to be medium-range in calories, with around 300, give or take. Fajitas made with beef tend to contain a little more than 300 calories, whereas those made with chicken may have slightly less. However, there is a trade-off in that beef also contains more protein than chicken. Adding ingredients such as sour cream and guacamole can also significantly increase the amount of calories and fat in your fajita - yet, in the case of guacamole, avocado comes with various health benefits such as improving the immune system and helping to lower cholesterol, as well as several antioxidants that protect against diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Another thing to consider is if your fajitas are restaurant-bought. Again, the healthiness will vary from establishment to establishment, with some places having modest amounts of fat and calories - and others having over 1,000 calories in one fajita and, in at least one restaurant, over 6,000 mg of sodium. Nearly triple the daily limit, this much sodium carries a serious risk of causing hypertension, cardiac arrest, stroke, liver damage, kidney failure, etc - especially when made a regular part of your diet.
Apart from nutrition, there is also concern regarding the fact that the meat in a fajita is normally grilled. The process of grilling meats releases chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heterocyclic amines (HCA). Both of these chemicals are known carcinogens, however, the extent to which they contribute to cancer in humans over a lengthy period of time is unknown.
In general, if you have fajita, it is best to have vegetables with a modest amount of meat (if any). Eating a fajita every now and again shouldn't be a problem, but be always be aware of how much sodium you may be consuming.
Possible long-term side effects
- weight gain
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heart disease
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hypertension
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kidney failure
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stroke
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liver failure
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heart attack
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- can be a good source of:
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vitamins
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minerals
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protein
Healthier alternatives
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