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You probably know that eating Burger King’s Whopper isn’t like eating, say, a kale and quinoa bowl. It’s a calorie bomb, for sure: your entry-level Whopper is over 600 calories — that’s without fries or other add-ons — and leveling up to a Double Whopper or Triple Whopper compounds the caloric damage (according to Burger King’s website). But not everyone’s on a diet! Some people may even want to gain some weight. And, anyway, is a Whopper really that bad for you?
Oh, is it. And let nutritionist Serena Poon count the ways. In an exclusive interview with Mashed, she explained that this big burger’s saturated fat, sodium levels and protein content all could have health implications that go beyond not looking svelte for bathing suit season. “Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, one Whopper — sans cheese — contains about 60% of your daily value for fat and saturated fat, 40% of your daily value for sodium, and 56% of your daily value for protein,” Poon said. “Eating a diet that is high in saturated fat can cause high cholesterol, which can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.”
The big burger’s palate appeal is largely due to its saltiness, which is also one of Poon’s concerns with this particular BK entrée: “Eating a diet that is high in sodium can lead to bloating, high blood pressure, and again increase the risk of heart disease and stroke,” she explained.