Munching on Chinese food while watching TV might sound like the ideal evening at home. Some Hakka Noodles, Chilli Chicken, Schezwan Fried Rice and Veg Manchurian… scrumptious deliciousness. But if you go on that diet, your body will look more like a ball than a spear.
Nutritional analysis of Chinese dishes shows that they are high in caloric value, sodium content, high fat content and simple carbohydrates (which behave like sugar in your body). Many Chinese dishes are rich in soy, which can increase the sodium content of the food. Excess sodium leads to an increase in blood pressure and water retention, which makes you gain weight and make you look bloated and fat.
So, what’s the solution? Obviously, not eating Chinese food is a bad idea. But you can make healthier choices when ordering Chinese food.
Let’s start with everyone’s favourite.. small steamed meals called Dim Sum – you would think it’s healthy because it’s steamed. But dim sum is primarily made from refined flour, which raises your blood sugar (see Diabetics) and promotes fat storage. For starters, go for fried ingredients, chicken satay, flavored vegetables, or a clear soup with vegetables and/or meat. Or you can skip the starters and go for the main course.
The main course is like a minefield of bad health bombs. Stir fried dishes are good because they are relatively low in sodium, cooked quickly and in less oil (since it is not deep fried). Stay away from that Manchurian. First it is coated in flour, then it is deep fried. It is then soaked in a high sodium sauce. Is there a better way to spell health disaster? Basically, stay away from anything served as dough-wrapped balls in sauce. All sauces, from black bean to sweet and sour, are drowning in sodium. And some of them have a lot of sugar added, like sweet and sour or garlic.
As for your starch options, there’s another minefield. The noodles are all made from refined flour and then they are soaked in oils and flavorings (including soy) – you know what that does, so stay away from it. Fried rice is a slightly better option, as it is rice based, but again, a lot of oil and soy, as rice soaks both of them fast! The best option is steamed rice. Plus, relatively few calories, it lowers your sodium intake. Plus, it gives you a chance to really savor the flavor of the dishes. Try the jasmine rice, it smells wonderful.
In sweets, I have yet to find a true sugar dessert. All the standard Indian versions of Chinese sweets are very unhealthy- darshan (fried dough with sugar), sugar coated walnuts, fried ice cream. Do I even need to go into why these are not good options. Chinese joints are not known for their chocolate based dishes. Stay away from it even it’s on the menu
We recommend choosing fresh fruits for a mild and sweet taste. Don’t forget to grab some of that green tea or jasmine tea.
It takes some questioning of the wait staff to solve the health mystery of a new dish. But don’t be shy – eat like this while watching a sports channel and you’re one step closer to looking like those athletes on TV.
Source by Dhruv Gupta
