Whether you’re trying to monitor your sodium intake or not, you may be shocked to learn just how much salt is coming from one particular type of food—not the salt shaker.
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The average American consumes more than 3,400 milligrams of sodium each day, which exceeds the routinely recommended 2,300 milligrams as per the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines. The American Heart Association (AHA) even suggests adults limit their sodium intake to just 1,500 milligrams a day, especially if they already have high blood pressure or are at risk. (Related: 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet).
You may be thinking but I don’t even add salt to my food. The thing is, you don’t have to because, according to the FDA, more than 70% of sodium in the American diet comes from packaged and prepared foods.
Most Americans grossly underestimate just how much salt they’re consuming on a daily basis. As the AHA points out, one study revealed that more than half of adults surveyed thought they were eating less than 2,000 milligrams of sodium each day. This is a significant issue seeing as many health complications, such as cardiovascular disease and cardiac events including heart attack and stroke, are associated with having high dietary sodium levels.
“We are awash in foods that are high in sodium,” Thomas Frieden, former director of the CDC said to the Washington Post. “Sodium reduction is one of the most neglected and under-implemented public health interventions. Yet, there is absolutely no doubt that excess sodium is resulting in deaths.”
Food manufacturers are largely at fault for adding excess sodium to an array of different products on grocery store shelves, from loaves of bread to boxes of breakfast cereal. However, by reducing the amount of processed and prepared foods you eat each week, you can effectively decrease your sodium intake.
Alternatively, you can look for products on store shelves that say “low sodium” or even use “lite” salt—which contains half of the amount of sodium as regular salt—when preparing meals from scratch.
For more suggestions, be sure to read 14 Best Low-Sodium Canned Soups for Heart Health, Approved by Dietitians.
Read the original article on Eat This, Not That!
Table of Contents
ToggleThe Unhealthiest Burgers in America—Ranked!
It’s no secret most people love burgers—so much so that it’s considered a staple in American cuisine, with a burger and fries being one of the most commonly ordered meals in restaurants across the nation. However, at what point is a burger too much? In other words, how far will restaurants go to maximize the toppings on an already calorie-packed meal? We set out to discover which popular restaurant chains are whipping up some of the most caloric, unhealthiest burgers in the country. We can guarantee you’ll be shocked to see just how many calories, and how much fat and sodium lie in some of your favorite restaurant burgers.Methodology: In order to identify the unhealthiest burgers in America, we compiled a list of the most caloric burgers from some of the most popular sit-down restaurants nationwide. The burgers with the most calories, in most cases, also have the highest total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium contents as well. To break ties, we chose the burger with a greater amount of saturated fat and deemed that one less healthy. We also only considered the top three most unhealthy burgers at each restaurant to ensure we represented a diverse range of restaurants on this list. No sides were considered in this ranking either.Now, here are the unhealthiest burgers in the country, ranked from bad to the absolute worst of the worst. And after, be sure you’re staying away from any of the 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.Read the original article on Eat This, Not That!
20. Red Robin’s MadLove Burger
Nutrition: 1,050 calories, 58 g fat (25 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 1,800 mg sodium, 71 g carbs (5 g fiber, 27 g sugar), 63 g protein
Sure, you may have some mad love for this burger—we know, it looks pretty delicious—but your waistline and heart will not feel the same love your tastebuds get to experience. At 1,050 calories, Red Robin’s MadLove Burger is one of the worst burgers you could order for your health. If you still need your fix of red meat, order the Keep It Simple beef burger for 530 calories and a fraction of the fat and sodium.If you love Red Robin, be sure to check out 7 Beloved Burger Chains That May Close For Good.
19. IHOP’s Mega Monster Cheeseburger
Nutrition: 1,060 calories, 72 g fat (31 g saturated fat, 3 g trans fat), 2,030 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (3 g fiber, 10 g sugar), 61 g protein
IHOP may be known primarily for its breakfast food items, but have you ever stopped in for lunch or dinner? Their Mega Monster Cheeseburger is chock-full of calories and artery-clogging saturated fat. Can you believe that an over 1,000-calorie burger is the least bad of all? Wait until you see what’s to come. If you do decide to pop into IHOP and are craving a cheeseburger, opt for The Classic Steakburger for anywhere between 520 and 670 calories and nearly half of the saturated fat.
18. Friendly’s Honey BBQ Burger
Nutrition: 1,067 calories, 60 g fat (22 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 2,084 mg sodium, 79 g carbs (3 g fiber, 30 g sugar), 54 g protein
Friendly’s Honey BBQ Burger is packed to the brim with calories. It also costs you an entire day’s worth of saturated fat. Instead, order Friendly’s All-American Burger for about half of the calories and saturated fat.Related: 13+ Best Healthy Hamburger Recipes for Weight Loss
17. TGI Fridays Signature Whiskey-Glazed Burger
Nutrition: 1,110 calories, 55 g fat (25 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 3,530 mg sodium, 110 g carbs (3 g fiber, 76 g sugar), 46 g protein
TGI Friday’s whips up some mean burgers, but do they really have to be this caloric? The restaurant’s Signature Whiskey-Glazed Burger—which is infused with Jack Daniels—may as well be marketed as a heart-stopper within a bun with 3,530 milligrams of sodium. For perspective, The American Heart Association recommends that you consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day to keep your heart healthy. This burger costs you more than a day and a half’s worth. This burger also houses 76 grams of sugar—about three times greater than the AHA suggested consumption of 25 grams of added sugar per day for women and more than double the suggested amount of 36 grams for men.
16. Red Robin’s The Southern Charm Burger
Nutrition: 1,130 calories, 67 g fat (21 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 1,670 mg sodium, 82 g carbs (2 g fiber, 43 g sugar), 50 g protein
Red Robin’s Southern Charm Burger may be extremely delicious, but beware, because it comes with a price tag—nutritionally-speaking anyways. Aside from being high in calories, fat, and sodium—which are all things you expect from a burger on this list—it also packs a whopping 40 grams of sugar, which contains 6 grams more sugar than a 2/3 cup serving of Ben & Jerry’s Karamel Sutra Core ice cream.Related: The Unhealthiest Ice Cream Pints in America—Ranked!
15. Perkins BBQ Tangler Burger
Nutrition: 1,140 calories, 70 g fat (27 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 1,690 mg sodium, 75 g carbs (2 g fiber, 34 g sugar), 51 g protein
This burger may be best described as a beast with onion tanglers and bacon sandwiched in between a generous 6-ounce Angus beef patty and buttery brioche bun. It packs a lot of fat too, thanks to the bacon, beef, and sharp cheddar cheese between its buttery buns.
14. Perkins’ Patty Melt Pile On Sandwich
Nutrition: 1,170 calories, 78 g fat (32 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 1,670 mg sodium, 63 g carbs (4 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 54 g protein
Perkins dishes up an old-fashioned patty melt, but not one you should eat often. Why? There are over 1,100 calories in this sandwich, and may we remind you that’s without any sides. If you must satisfy your hankering for this classic burger, split with a loved one rather than eating the whole thing yourself.Speaking of burger cravings, be sure to read up on 17 Grilling Mistakes That Are Ruining Your BBQ.
13. Red Robin’s Monster Burger
Nutrition: 1,210 calories, 77 g fat (31 g saturated fat, 3 g trans fat), 2,410 mg sodium, 59 g carbs (3 g fiber, 20 g sugar), 72 g protein
This burger isn’t dubbed a monster for no reason. Without the fries, this burger costs you 1,210 calories on its own—that’s more than half of your daily calories consumed in just one sitting. Toss in a side of steak fries, and you’re looking at adding on an additional 360 calories to this already high-calorie meal.
12. Chili’s Southern Smokehouse Beef Burger
Nutrition: 1,260 calories, 83 g fat (31 g saturated fat, 3 g trans fat), 2360 mg sodium, 68 g carbs (4 g fiber, 16 g sugar), 92 g protein
This burger is stacked in smokehouse meats—just look at the size of it! It towers so high from all of the bacon that it needs to be held together by a large steak knife. Just how much is 1,260 calories? For context, you would have to eat almost 120 Lay’s Potato Chips.
11. Uno Pizzeria & Grill Bacon Cheddar Burger
Nutrition: 1,350 calories, 99 g fat (36 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 2,070 mg sodium, 35 g carbs (2 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 71 g protein
This burger may make you happy but at the cost of taxing your heart, with over a day and a half’s worth of saturated fat, a day’s worth of sodium, and more than half of your daily calories.Learn how to keep your heart healthy by shopping for The 16 Best Heart-Healthy Groceries, According to Dietitians.
10. Johnny Rockets’ Route 66 Double Turkey Burger w/ gluten-free bun
Nutrition: 1,380 calories, 100 g fat (30 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 2,560 mg sodium, 50 g carbs (10 g fiber, 10 g sugar), 70 g protein
The picture only shows one layer of meat, but imagine this burger with two ground turkey patties! This sandwich clocks in at a whopping 100 grams of total fat, nearly a third of which is devoted solely to saturated fat. The gluten-free bun and the turkey patties actually hike up the calories by a considerable amount. For a healthier option, opt for the Rocket Single Burger for just 470 calories and 30 grams of total fat.
9. The Cheesecake Factory’s Americana Cheeseburger
Nutrition: 1,400 calories, 93 g fat (37 g saturated fat, 3 g trans fat), 3,370 mg sodium, 79 g carbs (4 g fiber, 25 g sugar), 60 g protein
We all know The Cheesecake Factory offers some of the most caloric pasta dishes and cheesecake slices on the planet, so is this really any surprise that their burgers are just as calorie-heavy? This burger alone comprises just over two-thirds of your daily calories.Want more Cheesecake Factory content? Check out Expect These 7 Major Changes at Cheesecake Factory As It Reopens.
8. The Cheesecake Factory Mushroom Burger
Nutrition: 1,470 calories, 102 g fat (40 g saturated fat, 3.5 g trans fat), 2,700 mg sodium, 72 g carbs (4 g fiber, 22 g sugar), 65 g protein
This burger from The Cheesecake Factory may not look like it’s huge, but trust us when we say it’s loaded in calories, fat, and sodium. Or, better yet, just refer to the numbers above. For an equivalent amount of total fat, you could eat nearly eight Dove Milk Chocolate Bars.
7. Johnny Rockets’ Smoke House Double Burger w/ turkey burger on gluten-free bun
Nutrition: 1,490 calories, 100 g fat (30 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 3,690 mg sodium, 70 g carbs (10 g fiber, 20 g sugar), 80 g protein
This burger houses a whopping 100 grams of fat. For perspective, one stick of butter contains about 92 grams of fat—which means you’d save 8 grams of fat by eating that rather than this meal.
6. Friendly’s Double Honey BBQ Burger
Nutrition: 1,513 calories, 94 g fat (40 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 3,233 mg sodium, 81 g carbs (3.2 g fiber, 31 g sugar), 86 g protein
Friendly’s Double Honey BBQ Burger packs 40 grams of saturated fat, which is double the recommended daily allowance of about 20 grams. Ideally, you should limit your saturated fat intake to just 13 grams a day to prevent heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association.
5. Chili’s The Boss Burger
Nutrition: 1,530 calories, 107 g fat (43 g saturated fat, 3.5 g trans fat), 3,120 mg sodium, 49 g carbs (4 g fiber, 16 g sugar), 92 g protein
The picture does all of the talking for us. This burger is truly an artery-clogging monster with 43 grams of saturated fat and over 3,000 milligrams of sodium. Not to mention, it packs nearly 100 grams of protein, which is far too much for your body to metabolize all at once. In fact, different experts say that the body can only utilize between 15-35 grams of protein at a time for muscle building purposes—the rest is used for fuel or, at this hefty amount, stored in your body as fat.Speaking of muscle building, do you ever wonder How Much Protein You Really Need a Day to Build Muscle?
4. The Cheesecake Factory Bacon-Bacon Cheeseburger
Nutrition: 1,590 calories, 108 g fat (45 g saturated fat, 3.5 g trans fat), 3,450 mg sodium, 76 g carbs (3 g fiber, 28 g sugar), 78 g protein
The fourth unhealthiest burger you could order is none other than the Bacon-Bacon Cheeseburger at The Cheesecake Factory. You could eat an equivalent amount of sodium that’s in this burger by consuming about 1 1/2 tablespoons of finely ground salt straight from the spoon.
3. Applebee’s Brunch Burger
Nutrition: 1,610 calories, 100 g fat (33 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 3,060 mg sodium, 114 g carbs (8 g fiber, 14 g sugar), 66 g protein
OK, we all love a good brunch, but isn’t a burger for a meal enough food on its own? Evidently, that’s not the case at Applebee’s, because this burger is topped with the breakfast essentials: two strips of bacon, crispy hash browns, and an egg over easy. It’s no wonder this burger is over 1,600 calories! For context, this burger has as many calories as three Big Macs at McDonald’s.RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods.
2. Applebee’s Whisky Bacon Burger
Nutrition: 1,650 calories, 102 g fat (34 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 2,790 mg sodium, 122 g carbs (8 g fiber, 19 g sugar), 63 g protein
If you learn anything from this article it should be this: any burger that’s topped with bacon is going to cost you—calories, fat, and sodium, that is. You could eat about two and a half plates of the Double Crunch Bone-In Wings appetizer for an equivalent amount of calories.
1. Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger
Nutrition: 1,670 calories, 110 g fat (42 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 3,580 mg sodium, 100 g carbs (8 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 71 g protein
Imagine if a cheesy quesadilla met a jumbo burger…this would be the result. Why have a standard bun when you could have soft flour tortillas enclosing gooey cheese and bits of red bell pepper and onion as the base? This burger packs 110 grams of fat primarily from the mass amount of animal product and animal bi-product that it contains. If you’re wondering just how much grams of fat that is, imagine eating about 12 tablespoons, or more than 2/3 of a cup, of peanut butter in one sitting. This burger from Applebee’s just falls short of 1,700 calories, making it the unhealthiest burger you can purchase from any popular restaurant chain. You’ll want to avoid ordering it, along with any of the sodas on our list of the 108 Most Popular Sodas Ranked By How Toxic They Are.
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