Gastroenterologist named the most harmful traditional New Year's dishes

On New Year's Eve, you traditionally want to set a rich table and please your family with the usual traditional New Year dishes. However, some items from the classic menu can have a negative effect on well-being if consumed excessively. Evgeniya Melnikova, a gastroenterologist at SM Clinic, told Izvestia about this on December 18.

According to her, the most popular salads are at risk — "herring under a fur coat" and olivier.

As the expert noted, the first course contains a significant amount of salt, an excess of which can disrupt the water-salt balance. With an excess of sodium, fluid is trapped in the tissues, which leads to edema, weight fluctuations, and increased blood pressure.

"Regular consumption of excessively salty foods can eventually contribute to thickening of vascular walls, deterioration of renal function, formation of urolithiasis and decrease in bone density, which increases the risk of osteoporosis," Melnikova emphasized.

Fur, that's all: herring under a fur coat has become the most profitable New Year's salad

A table for four in 2025 will cost Russians an average of 9.1 thousand rubles.

The vegetables included in the salad deserve special attention. Although raw beets and carrots are rich in useful fiber, their glycemic index increases significantly after heat treatment. Therefore, it is better for people with diabetes to exclude such dishes from the festive menu.

The doctor also reminded that mayonnaise, which is traditionally used in both salads, cannot be called a healthy product. The main danger is associated with the presence of trans fats, modified vegetable oils that the body is unable to fully process. Such compounds accumulate in the liver and pancreas, provoking inflammatory reactions.

Classic olivier, according to the expert, contains about 170 mg of cholesterol per serving, while the recommended daily allowance for a healthy person is 300 mg. If you eat several servings during a festive evening and supplement them with other heavy foods, the likelihood of negative consequences for blood vessels increases, including accelerating the development of atherosclerosis.

The gastroenterologist advises to be especially careful with pork dishes. This meat is characterized by a high content of animal fat and is digested much longer than other products.

"Excessive consumption of pork can slow down the work of the stomach, increase inflammation in the digestive organs, and also contribute to the accumulation of cholesterol plaques that constrict blood vessels. All this increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases," the expert concluded.

Nutritionist and nutritionist Sofya Kovanova advised on December 15 to eat two to three hours before the feast, so as not to overeat. According to her, it's better to start with a vegetable salad with butter and lemon juice, after which you can gradually try the rest of the dishes.

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