There are numerous kinds of fast food restaurants available to the hungry shopper or commuter who is looking for a quick place to eat and not have to spend a fortune. But although fast food restaurants save time and money, they may not be doing anything for your waistline. It seems as though there are no exceptions when it comes to Chinese fast food either.

It has been studied that Chinese fast food restaurants have some of the unhealthiest food available to us. For instance, one popular fast food Chinese dish, General Tso’s chicken offers whopping 40% more sodium and more than half of the total amount of calories that the average adult requires in an entire day.

In dishes such as General Tso’s Chicken, you will consume around 1300 calories, 3200 milligrams of sodium and over 11 grams of saturated fat. Now keep in mind, that is an extremely high and dangerous level of sodium and our body’s enemy - saturated fat. If you find those amounts startling, don’t forget to add on the cup of white rice that is served with the dish, adding on an additional 200 calories and the egg rolls that pack in another 200 calories and 400 milligrams of sodium

Now, keep in mind that Chinese fast food restaurants are not symbolic of all Chinese food, and actually Chinese cuisine can be very healthy and nutritious. But the processes used in most fast food restaurants, including Chinese fast food chains, add on a lot of sodium and fat that our bodies can not possibly use. So what should you order next time you are at a Chinese fast food restaurant? Stick to dishes that are vegetable based, and low in sodium. Most importantly, as with any fast food meal, enjoy only in moderation and keep track of what you eat the rest of the day in calories.