Earlier this year, before the fate of the 2024 presidential election was sealed, former President Donald Trump embarked on a campaign trail that would take him all over the US, including Pennsylvania, where he served fries at McDonald’s.

In a memo following Trump’s visit, McDonald’s made it clear that the politician was not invited to visit the Feasterville-Trevose franchise location by the company. “McDonald’s does not endorse candidates for elected office and that remains true in this race for the next President,” it stated. “We are not red or blue—we are golden.”

But when you consider the now president-elect’s diet, it’s unsurprising that he chose to visit one of the fast-food giant’s restaurants during his campaign tour. According to several reports, he eats McDonald’s most days. In fact, in 2023, Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. said on his Triggered podcast that “no one knows” the McDonald’s menu better than his father. He added: “No one probably eats more of it, per capita.”

Beyond McDonald’s, Trump is known for eating a variety of fast food. In 2016, for example, he posted a picture of himself on X, then known as Twitter, eating fried chicken from KFC with a knife and fork. He also enjoys Doritos, pizza, steak and chips, and copious amounts of Diet Coke, according to one recent article from The Telegraph, in which reporter Gareth Davies describes his efforts trying to eat like the president-elect for one week.

@realDonaldTrump | X

In the piece, Davies labels Trump’s diet “a bland bonanza of beige” and “that of a child.” He says that at first, he was excited to have an excuse to eat lots of fast food, but quickly realized he’d made “a horrible mistake.” It wasn’t just that eating that much McDonald’s and KFC day after day was boring, but the diet–which is devoid of nutritional value— seriously started to impact his health. 

“My hands, for the entire week, were always cold. And that’s not something I ever suffer with,” he said. “I was also barely going to the toilet, and when I was, I really had to try,” he added. Davies also noted that his urine “was like squeezy honey” and “clearly so unhealthy.” He finished the article by saying “Frankly, I don’t quite understand how Donald Trump is still alive.”

Why following Trump’s diet is risky for your health

According to Sapna Peruvemba, MS, RDN, a vegan registered dietitian and founder of Health by Sapna, Trump’s reliance on fast food means that his diet is devoid of essential nutrients. It’s also high in ultra-processed foods and saturated fats and contains next to no fiber at all. 

Based on Davies’ reporting, Peruvemba says, “There is not a veggie in sight unless you count the lettuce on a Big Mac or the potato in the fries.”

In the short term, she notes that this can lead to bloating and constipation (as Davies describes), as well as acne, brittle nails, hair loss, and brain fog. “Nutrient deficiencies can sap your energy and dull your focus,” she explains.

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In the long term, however, this type of diet may have serious consequences. “Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer risks go up,” she says, before adding that “studies show a diet high in ultra-processed foods can raise the risk of premature death by 31 percent.”

Last year, one study from the University of Bristol found that people who consumed more ultra-processed foods like potato chips, candy, fizzy drinks, and hot dogs had a higher risk of head, neck, and esophageal cancers. Processed meats, like those found in fast-food burgers and nuggets, for example, have also been linked with a higher risk of everything from heart disease to diabetes to dementia.

Joyce N. Boghosian | Official White House Photograph

To wash down all of the fast food, Trump also tends to drink Diet Coke instead of water. In fact, he could be drinking up to 12 cans a day, reports suggest. According to Peruvemba, this habit could also have some major health consequences. “Each can contains around 200 milligrams of the controversial sweetener aspartame,” she says. “According to the FDA’s acceptable daily intake, you’d need to hit 10 cans a day to exceed the safe limit.”

She adds that regular Diet Coke consumption is also linked with a higher risk of conditions like metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. “It may not pack sugar, but its metabolic impact is still a concern,” she says. Plus, it’s also not great for hydration. “Sodium and caffeine can act like hydration hijackers, pulling water from your body rather than replenishing it,” she adds (which likely explains Davies’ “squeezy honey” urine).

Peruvemba is keen to point out that there isn’t anything wrong with occasionally eating fast food or drinking Diet Coke, it’s about the bigger picture. “A burger here or fries there won’t derail your health if most of your diet is packed with fruits, veggies, legumes, and whole grains. It’s not about being perfect,” she says.

“The real issue with Trump’s diet isn’t the occasional indulgence,” she adds. “It’s the lack of anything resembling balance.”

But Trump isn’t alone. Research suggests that most Americans follow the Standard American Diet, which is low in fruits and vegetables and high in salt, saturated fat, and ultra-processed foods.

For some, this is due to a lack of access to fresh, nutritious food. The US is home to more than 6,500 food deserts, which are areas that are severely lacking in places to buy healthy affordable food, but have plenty of processed and fast food on offer. However, for others, like billionaire Trump, it’s about personal choice or unhealthy habits.

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Peruvemba says that even eating a few more healthy plant-based foods at first can make a big difference to health. “Even adding just one serving of fruits or vegetables per day can start to fill nutritional gaps,” she says. “This small addition packs fiber, phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals into a diet that’s otherwise lacking. And there’s a ripple effect—when you eat more plants, you naturally eat less of the other stuff.”

It’s about “progress, not perfection,” says Peruvemba. And one more final piece of advice: when it comes to diet, don’t look to the president-elect for guidance. “It’s the dietary equivalent of a political scandal,” she notes. “High drama, no balance.”

This post was originally published on VegNews.com.