The sandwich, one of the meals most consumed by the French, is more calories and more salty than you think, according to a study.
Caloric and very salty: these two words alone sum up the composition of this snack, consumed by 70% of French people during their lunch break. 2 billion sandwiches are eaten each year in France. And yet, few are those who really know what is behind these meals “on the go”.
1/5 of the daily salt requirement
The sandwich provides one-fifth of the daily sodium requirement, according to a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In the United States, health authorities have set at 2300 milligrams the maximum recommended daily amount of sodium (1500 mg in France).
THEResearchers have calculated that at the end of a day, sandwich eaters have higher sodium levels than those who haven’t – around 600 mg. The same goes for energy intake, 300 calories higher among sandwich aficionados.
The question of ingredients
However, the conclusion of this study should be put into perspective. It was conducted in the United States, where the authors note that sandwiches are, for the most part, particularly high in calories and salty. Indeed, everything is in the choice of ingredients. “The combination of yeast bread, cheese and cold meats contributes in priority to raising the levels of sodium and kilocalories”, explain the researchers.
This study allows above all to quantify the nutritional contributions of the sandwich, and to adapt its diet accordingly (limit its salt consumption for the rest of the day, for example).
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