The nutritionist told about the benefits and harms of shawarma for health

Shawarma can be not only a harmful fast food, but also a full meal with the right composition and cooking method. Tatiana Dubrovskaya, a leading endocrinologist, nutritionist, and therapist at the K+31 West clinic, told Izvestia on January 15.

"Shawarma can be beneficial for the body when it is made from lean meat or chicken, plenty of fresh vegetables and with a minimal portion of fatty sauces. As a rule, such a solution can be found in high—quality restaurants, but alas, it is extremely rare for street vendors," the specialist explained.

She stressed that there is no universal norm for the frequency of shawarma consumption. According to the doctor, it is important to take into account both the composition of the dish itself and the individual characteristics of human health. An attempt to deduce the "average" acceptable frequency of consumption of such a product would be unreliable.

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The expert also drew attention to the calorie content of the shawarma. Depending on the composition, a 350-400 g serving contains from 600 to 900 kcal, which is 25-45% of the daily value for women and 20-30% for men. According to the nutritionist, this makes it a full meal, and not a snack at all, as it is often perceived.

"Eating shawarma causes a sharp rise in blood sugar due to lavash with a high glycemic index. Vegetables and protein in the composition mitigate this effect, improving intestinal motility and saturating the body, but this does not drastically reduce the load," said Dubrovskaya.

Speaking about the types of shawarma, the doctor explained that the meat version contains more protein and iron, but it has a high fat content, which can contribute to an increase in cholesterol levels. Chicken shawarma, according to her, is lower in calories and is considered more gentle for the body. The vegetarian version is rich in fiber and vitamins due to vegetables, but does not provide enough protein.

In November, nutritionist and nutritionist Sofya Kovanova told how many tangerines you can eat per day. According to her, it is acceptable to eat up to four medium or six small fruits per day. It is better to limit sweeter varieties by half, since they have a higher carbohydrate content.

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