Some of the best tasting cuisine in the world comes from Thailand. The dishes from this country offer more than just great taste, however.
You will find them chock-full of healthy ingredients. Read on to learn Thai food health benefits that may pleasantly surprise you!
Fresh Ingredients
Thai cuisine uses fresh ingredients that taste amazing and fill you up with nutrients. Let’s look at some of the common constituents and their benefits.
Rice
This staple in Thai cuisine will help you feel full. It balances out the meal by adding important carbohydrates to the mix. When added to tofu, you create a complete protein without needing a meat source.
Coconut Milk
Many Thai soups and signature dishes contain coconut milk. Though high in fat, this creamy liquid comes from ripened coconuts and contains a high number of electrolytes.
Coconut milk also lowers blood cholesterol levels by offering HDL or “good” cholesterol.
Lean Protein Sources
Thai dishes will typically contain chicken, fish, or tofu. All of these pack a punch of protein with little saturated fat. Tofu appeals to vegetarian diners as it comes from soybeans.
Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs
You will get a large dose of veggies in Thai food. For veggies, you may commonly find onions, bamboo shoots, peppers, bok choy, bean sprouts, carrot, cabbage, eggplant, broccoli, mustard greens, and kale.
Fruits they may use include coconut, pineapple, mango, and lychee. Some common Thai herbs include ginger, cilantro, basil, lemongrass, garlic, and turmeric.
Heart Health
Ingredients like coconut milk and fresh veggies and fish contain compounds that raise HDL and lower LDL cholesterol in your blood. Higher levels of HDL improve your heart health. These ingredients will also lower your blood pressure, which also helps the heart.
Energy
Need an energy boost? Indulge in your favorite Thai food!
Coconut milk, the base of many Thai dishes, provides electrolytes, like magnesium, potassium, and sodium. The fresh vegetables offer a plethora of vitamins and minerals as well. These nutrients offer fuel for energy.
Fish and meat dishes will give you high amounts of vitamin B12 as well as protein, which will fill energy stores in the body. The carbs from rice provide an immediate source of energy by boosting blood sugar in a healthy way.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Inflammation creates pain and problems within the body. Thai food can help you combat this. Many of the ingredients, including turmeric, garlic, ginger, and hot pepper all reduce inflammation.
Immunity
This type of diet offers important nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, and zinc. These will help your body replenish white blood cells to boost your immunity.
This helps protect you against viruses and bacterial infections. Some of the plant-based ingredients, like lemongrass, may also fight against cancer!
Enjoy Thai Food Health Benefits
There is nothing better than finding food that tastes good and improves your health. Enjoy Thai food health benefits by ordering this amazing cuisine regularly.
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