Chinese restaurant food loaded with health risks, group says
SCRIPPS HOWARD
WASHINGTON -- Loaded with salt and laden with oil, some Chinese food menu options can pack a Kung-powerful punch of artery-popping health risks, according to a consumer advocacy group.
But don't drop the chopsticks. Ordered correctly, Chinese cuisine is still a contender for one of the healthiest ethnic dining-out options, said Bonnie Leibman, director of nutrition for the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
"The good thing about Chinese food is that you can get vegetable-rich dishes, and it's got the kind of fat that's not bad for your heart," Leibman said at a press conference Wednesday. "But like all restaurant food, Chinese food is loaded with calories and salt. That's bad for your waistline and your blood pressure."
To maintain a healthy diet, Leibman said, consumers should have no more than 2,000 calories and 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. Too many calories can lead to weight gain. And too much sodium can increase blood pressure, resulting in heart disease.
Some of the greatest offenders in the CSPI report, "Wok Carefully," include:
General Tso's chicken, with 3,200 milligrams of salt, more than double the recommended daily limit.
Combination fried rice, which included a gut-busting 1,500 calories per order.
Lemon chicken, although it sounds safe, is the equivalent of scarfing down three McDonald's McChicken sandwiches and a large Coke.
Szechuan string beans are laced with 2,700 milligrams of sodium.