Do you know how Indian food is, Is Indian food healthy? You certainly often see on youtube channels and others about the variety of Indian food. The diversity of Indian food is nothing but influenced by its cultural diversity. Every part of India, there is always a different culture so that different cuisines and foods are born. Today we want to know if Indian food is healthy or otherwise, let’s find out the facts!
Indian food is rich, and quite a lot of spices affect their diet. Turmeric is one of the unforgettable spices in Indian food. You certainly know how the benefits of turmeric for our health, when it comes in food of course also affects the consistency and benefits of the food.
We all always crave for food at an Indian restaurant every weekend night, sitting down with family and friends to enjoy the delights of Indian food. Indian food, is it really healthy? Some Indian food is not only healthy but also quite world famous, we have compiled a list of the most popular Indian dishes, have a look there. Here we will clear your doubts about is Indian food healthy? Soon you will know that it is not wrong if you every holiday night craving Indian food.
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What Can You Find in Indian Cuisine?
We have the stereotype that Indian food is fat, spicy and rich so it’s bad for health, but this is just a myth.
Indian food is a nutrient-rich food and even includes foods that are quite good for health. The world of Ayurvedic medicine says that Indian food has always been healthy, especially in the past.
Some Indian food Facts
1. Indian cuisine is rich in grains
Why is Indian food rich in grains? This is because most Indians grow a lot of grains, they also grow lentils so a lot of Indian food also contains lentils. So, Indian food is actually a food rich in protein and other nutrients and rich in essential amino acids.
2. Thalis, food rich in diversity
Thali is an Indian food that is rich in diversity, it consists of small bowls and different sizes. In this meal there will be two to three types of lentils, there are vegetables, rice and sometimes there are those containing both.
The thali also contains sweets, so it is a complete dish as it contains all the nutrients the body needs.
3. Healthy Cooking Oils
One of the ingredients in making food is cooking oil and India provides many types of healthy cooking oil. You can easily find coconut cooking oil, nuts, mustard oil, groundnuts oils, and other cooking oils that are good for health.
However, these various cooking oils in the past were healthier because the manufacturing process was better than now.
4. Salts of the Cuisine
Indian food in the past used salt which was much healthier, they used pink salt, black salt, rock salt. Over time, then the Indians gradually began to use less pure salt and since this Indian food began to be less healthy when compared to the old cuisine.
Today most Indian food is made using the latest, less pure ingredients.
Is Indian Food Healthy
How do you think now about Indian food. Is Indian food healthy? Indian food strengthens immunity, contains anti-inflammatory, rich in fiber, rich in protein, and good for brain function.
Even if they can find many kinds of healthy food, but most Indians prefer to eat carbohydrates and foods rich in sugar. They seem to eat less plant protein, and now let’s take a look at some of the elements that are pretty much found in the Indian diet.
- Contains lots of different kinds of fruits and vegetables
- Rich in fiber
- Rich in herbs and spices
- Low fat
Now have you decided whether Indian food is healthy? Before saying healthy or not, it also depends on how you make it, how often you eat Indian food, the ingredients you use. So, these considerations are important before you say Indian food is healthy or not.
Drawbacks of Indian Food
Indian food is healthy but there are downsides. When ordering Indian food in a restaurant, they usually cook the food with high oil and rich spices, besides that most Indian restaurants are not clean. So ordering Indian food at a restaurant can be said to be unhealthy.
Foods that have too much oil are certainly not healthy, besides that foods with excess carbohydrates are also not good for health. Especially if they cook too long with abundant oil content. Foods that are cooked in oil for too long are unhealthy.
If you look at Indian main dishes like Biryani rice, naan, bread, paratha. This is a carbohydrate rich food and when smeared with a lot of oil and butter, it is unhealthy.
In addition, foods that have too many spices, chilies and spices will be difficult for the body to digest. Dairy products and yogurt will be healthy for stomach health, but if you consume a lot of sweetened milk, then this will be dangerous for health. Indian snacks that are fried or contain a lot of fat are not suitable for your stomach and heart.
Potential Health Benefits
Even though there are many shortcomings in the presentation of Indian food, there are potential health benefits that you can get from Indian food. Indian food contains less sugar which has the potential to prevent diabetes. In addition, it is also rich in vegetables, whole grains and fruits which are quite good for health.
Spices are also a positive value and are found in many spices in Indian cuisine. Spices are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory which are good for heart health.
In addition, Indian cuisine also contains a lot of turmeric, ginger, and chili which are useful for metabolism and overall health. The content of peas, legumes and grains in Indian dishes makes it a positive value because it is rich in protein.
How to Eat Healthy Indian Food
Eating Indian food can help you lose weight because some of it contains a lot of fiber. But this depends on the portion and the amount you eat. We know that Indian food is rich in fat and if consumed in excess, of course this can lead to weight gain.
Also see:
- 23 Popular Indian Dishes to Try at an Indian Restaurant
- 7 Polynesian Food Dishes You Need To Try
- Can Bananas Be Refrigerated? – All About How to Store Bananas
Portion Control
The thing to pay attention to when eating Indian food is the portion, you have to be able to control the portion of your meal. Each bread you eat can add 80-90 calories and a serving of rice contains 100 calories.
Avoid Fried Foods
because they cook using a lot of oil and long cooking duration, then you should avoid fried foods.
So, there are other alternatives that you can eat, eat boiled, steamed, stir-fried, or grilled foods.
Limit Artificial Sugar
Limit the use of sugar, you can replace sugar with honey, cinnamon, and fruit sugar.
If you want to be healthier, then prepare Indian food in your own home. Cooking your own Indian food can certainly provide great health benefits. But if you buy it outside or in a restaurant, then most likely your food is not healthy. In addition to its rich portions of oil, fat and carbohydrates, most places are also unclean.
