The Most Unhealthy Japanese Foods

If you're a fan of Japanese food and eat it on a regular basis, you may be surprised to learn that there are many choices that aren't very healthy. Many people automatically assume that Japanese food is healthy because of the added vegetables, sauteed meats and rice, but depending on how the meal is prepared and what ingredients it contains, it may not be such a great choice. Below you can read about some of the unhealthiest Japanese dishes, so in the future you can stay away from them should you choose to eat healthier.

Fried rice - although white rice is cheap and easy to obtain, it isn't always the healthiest choice. Many Japanese dishes require rice fried in oil, and a lot of it. Many Japanese dishes also contain a great deal of rice, substantially more than a typical portion size, which is not healthy and promotes overeating, which can lead to indigestion, obesity and even diabetes if done on a consistent basis. Of course splurging occasionally isn't usually a big problem. It's just when a person over-eats fried Japanese rice on a regular basis that they can run into problems.

Breaded meats - Any type of breading on chicken, beef, pork and other meats is unnecessary and fattening. There are many delicious Japanese dishes that consist of broiled, stir-fried or steamed meats that taste wonderful without the addition of breading.

Deep-fried foods - some Japanese dishes are prepared by frying in oil, which increases the amount of saturated fat in the dish. Again, steamed, broiled and sauteed is a lot healthier than deep-fried, so if your goal is to eat healthy, you'll want to steer clear of deep fried foods.

High Sodium - Japanese food tends to have high amounts of sodium in it, especially due to the soy sauce that is used to flavor the food. High consumption of sodium has been linked to high blood pressure, so you many want to be careful when it comes to extra sodium if you have high blood pressure. You can decrease your sodium intake when indulging in Japanese food by not adding salt or extra soy sauce.

Gravies and sauces - Whenever you decide to visit your favorite Japanese joint, you should make sure that you steer clear of dishes with added gravy or sauces. Not only does these items contains large amounts of sodium, but the fat content is usually high as well, which is not good. Adding hot mustard or black pepper are great ways to add extra flavor to your food without jeopardizing your health.

References

CDC Portion Control Information - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/pdf/portion_size_research.pdf

Cleveland Clinic, Sodium & High Blood Pressure - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/hypertension_high_blood_pressure/hic_high_blood_pressure_and_nutrition.aspx