Vitamin Shoppe, “just one sushi roll can contain a half cup to one cup of rice and usually 300 to 500 calories (for most specialty rolls) and a lot of people order two or three rolls.” This can lead to an increase in blood sugar and insulin and with that can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Now when you factor in the other added ingredients such as the fried sides, the mayonnaise-based sauces, soy sauce, and sake you might have expended your caloric count for the day as well as increased your sodium intake. One tablespoon of soy sauce can have 900 milligrams of sodium. That’s almost 40 percent of the daily recommended amount.
This is what makes sushi unhealthy.
There are ways to make sushi healthy such as substituting the white rice for veggies. Try it wrapped in cucumber. If you must have it made with rice, try brown rice instead. Brown rice contains more fiber and is nutritionally better for you.
Also, instead of ordering several sushi rolls try ordering one in addition to a side salad or other healthy options like miso soup, edamame or try something on the low sodium menu. Ask for rolls without the mayonnaise-based sauces and or sake. If you can’t do without soy sauce, ask for low sodium soy sauce. Lastly, order low mercury fish such as salmon, shrimp, eel, crab, or trout.
Jaena Mebane, a graduate of Fordham University-B.A., Fitness Professional, Bodybuilder and creator of GLUTEUS FABULOUS. My motto is “Inspiring Others to Live a Healthy Lifestyle, Mind, Body, and Soul.” You can find me on Instagram @gluteus_fabulous