Is Chinese Food Healthy For You?

Wellness

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Thursday, November 10, 2011, 15:11

Before we discuss whether or not Chinese food is healthy it is important to differentiate what we classify as Chinese food. This is one cuisine in the world that has been adapted and adopted by almost every other country in their own way. We have the Indo-Chinese combination that turns of unheard of dishes like Chinese bhelpuri. Then there is the Chinese-American combination where you get deep fried ribs dipped in soy sauce. The best of Chinese food we have learned to enjoy is not Chinese food at all!

Coming to the main point of the discussion, authentic Chinese is a very healthy cuisine but it is rarely available in that form. This is how you can know if Chinese food is healthy.

What Chinese Food Is Healthy?

1. Is It Deep Fried? If it is then it is not healthy. Chinese food is cooked in rice bran oil which is one of the worst types of saturated fats. You would be surprised to know that a very small minority of Chinese foods are not fried at all. Nobody eats fried momos in China; it our own unhealthy addition to an otherwise healthy cuisine.

2. Is It Steamed? Then you can have it with your eyes closed. This entity called 'fried rice' that we love as one of the best dishes of Chinese food is actually not fried with oil traditionally. It is rice steamed with vegetables and meat or seafood which is very healthy. It is only out of commercialization that fried rice has become polished white rice dripped in oil.

3. Is It Stir Fried? Any dish that says stir fried on the menu can be ordered without worrying about its harmful effects. This is because they use minimum oil and are fried only for the duration of a few stirs. This special category exists in Chinese only because none of the food is otherwise fried!

4. Savvy Gravy? Chinese food can be healthy even in sauce provided that the sauce is home brewed and without MSG (which is the case with authentic Chinese) Soy is good for your health in limited amounts unless you have a special health condition. Moreover, it the important to note if the vegetables and meat or fish used in the gravy is fried or not. Ideally the ingredients of the gravy are supposed to be stewed together and not added after frying. So crispy veges in oyster sauce is not your best bet.

5. Soups And Dim-Sums? These two are the best of Chine food you can have. Steamed and wholesome they give you nutrition without fats. Avoid the sweet and sour labels, because the sweet sauce is unhealthy.

6. Ajinomotto or Chinese Grass: The flavour of Chinese food does not depend on this spice nor was it extensively used in China for ever preparation. Ask for your food to be made without this carcinogen.

Follow these good health tips to enjoy healthy Chinese food.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.