The Artery-Clogging Appetizer Experts Say You Should Never Order At A Restaurant

Mozzarella sticks and heart health

Let's be real: a lot of appetizers are fried, and no fried food is going to be good for your heart. "Fried foods integrate an excessive amount of saturated fat and calories that are simply unnecessary and can be avoided," Richards says. "However, there are some that are agreeably much worse in terms of nutrition, than others."

She says that in addition to their fried nature, mozzarella sticks come with several other downsides that could clog your arteries. "Mozzarella sticks are not only fried, but they contain high fat-cheese as well," Richards warns. "This appetizer is one of the worst for arteries because it contains a significant amount of calories and fat along with the inflammatory nature of the ingredients."

Inflammatory ingredients could pose a further risk to your heart; Richards explains that since mozzarella sticks contain both gluten and dairy, they could be especially harmful to people with intolerances to these ingredients and can even "lead to bloating and weight gain."

Does this mean you have to skip appetizers altogether? Certainly not! There are healthy options out there. Plus, if mozzarella sticks are really calling your name, indulging every once in a while won't kill you.

Just remember that keeping your heart in the best shape possible is all about making healthy choices every day, so when you skip the mozz sticks, your body will certainly thank you for it in the long run.

READ MORE: 3 Things To Stop Doing Because They Could Lead To Heart Disease