Indian cuisine has gained popularity around the globe in recent decades. My favorite butter chicken and chicken tikka masala, masala dosa, and Indian tea are some of the names that everyone around the world wants to taste or has tried at least once in their life. But the real question arises, “Is Indian cuisine healthy?” Why would someone pose this question for such a vibrant cuisine? The reason is the ingredients used to prepare Indian dishes.
The ingredients of Indian cuisine vary from region to region and also on cultural preferences. Indian cuisine is the only cuisine that has a variety of dishes for vegetarians making it one of the most popular among people who do not prefer to eat meat and related products. Also, Indian cuisine is an amalgamation of various cuisines. You can even get various diet plans including Punjabi diet plan, Gujarati diet plan, South Indian diet plan, and many more for weight loss.
Before coming to whether Indian cuisine is healthy, let’s see what makes Indian cuisine so special.
Use of spiced:
India has always been famous for its spices. Indian cuisine uses a variety of spices to not just add flavor to the dish but aroma as well. The use of aromatic spices makes the dish rich in nutrients as well. The use of cumin, turmeric, coriander, cardamom, and other spices are added to enhance flavors and each of these spices has medicinal properties which makes the dish healthy to eat. You can easily buy Indian spices and herbs from any online store selling these.
Cultural and regional diversity:
India is a diverse country and so is its cuisine. The country com[prises of many cultures and their cooking traditions vary from region to region and culture to culture. The way meat is cooked in the Northern side is different from the way it is cooked in the eastern side of the country. The northern side of India is more wheat-centric and eats rotis and naans with the dishes while the southern side of the country eats rice-based dishes like dosa, idli, etc.
Vegetarian dishes:
Indian cuisine is the only one that emphasizes vegetarian food. The plant-based diet is the core of Indian cuisine, making it a clean diet. Vegetables, fruits, lentils, and legumes are essential food items of Indian cuisine. You can cook various dishes like dal chawal, rajma chawal, aloo-gobhi, palak-paneer, rasam-baat, and many other dishes from the Indian menu if you are a vegetarian. A plant-based diet has multiple benefits because it is a nutrient-rich diet that helps in weight management as well given you follow a well-crafted vegetarian diet.
Eating plant-based food helps to improve digestion because lentils, legumes, and starchy vegetables rich in fiber help improve digestion and prevent issues related to the digestive system.
Consuming a plant-based diet helps improve energy levels because it includes all the natural foods that provide you with a steady source of energy rather than the temporary energy that you get from preservative foods that do not have healthy carbs or fats.
A vegetarian diet plan includes foods like fruits (apples, bananas, berries, etc), vegetables (spinach, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, etc), whole grains (rice, wheat, barley, etc), legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc), nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios, peanuts, etc) and of course dairy products like milk, curd, paneer, etc.
Is Indian Cuisine Healthy?
Did you figure out if Indian cuisine is healthy or not by reading the above mentioned points? If you didn’t let us clear your doubt in simple words. Yes, Indian cuisine is healthy for you. Indian cuisine uses all the ancient herbs and spices that have been around since Ayurveda times. These spices and herbs have medicinal properties and are used in every Indian dish, making it one of the healthiest cuisines around the globe.
Indian cuisine emphasizes on using plant-based ingredients like vegetables as a part of their widely recognized vegetarian meals. A person can choose from Rajma-chawal to dal-roti, to dosa, to thepla from the Indian menu (all these things are plant-based). And that’s not it! From masala chicken to fish curry, to tandoori chicken, you have healthy non-vegetarian options as well.
Why do people think Indian cuisine is fattening?
If Indian cuisine is this healthy, then why do people think it is fattening? There could be many reasons:
Street food:
Street food is the essence of Indian cuisine. India has one of the best street foods available and is widely famous as well. From samosas to vada pavs, Indian streets are full of mouthwatering snacks. Usually street food consists of fried food like fritters, and samosas. But that is just to satisfy your tastebuds and a modification of foods from different cultures.
Lacks protein:
Indian cuisine does not lack protein. In fact, it includes a variety of plant and animal-based foods that will help the body with the required protein intake. If we talk about just a vegetarian diet, it includes vegetables, lentils, and grains that are a source of essential nutrients including protein, fats, and carbohydrates. A vegetarian diet is an effective diet for losing weight.
Here is a list of protein sources in Indian cuisine:
- Nuts and seeds: Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, etc
- Beans and legumes: kidney beans, black beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc.
- Soybeans
- Soya chunks
- Paneer (cottage cheese)
Spicy dishes:
Just because Indian cuisine uses spices that does not mean it is spicy by all means. The spice level depends on the quantity of spices and not all dishes have high quantities of spices. Spices are used for enhancing the flavor of the dishes and as per the specific taste of the person. Once you know the cooking method of a dish you can add spices as per your preference and taste.
All the spices used in Indian cuisine have medicinal properties.
Medicinal properties of spices:
Ginger:
- Ginger is good for gut health as it helps to improve gastrointestinal motility (the rate at which food exits the body).
- It is beneficial for nausea relief, especially for pregnant women. For this, it is not only added to food but people also carry it with them especially when traveling.
- Ginger not only improves gastrointestinal motility but also prevents bloating and gas.
- Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that may help in preventing chronic diseases related to the heart.
- The ancient spice, ginger, is also an indispensable ingredient of chai in India.
Turmeric:
- Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that help curb inflammation in the body. The active compound of turmeric is called curcumin which has multiple health benefits.
- It has potential anti-oxidative properties that help to curb free radicals in the body.
- Turmeric is used for pain relief and this spice is a home remedy from ages to heal injuries as well.
- It is also beneficial for the skin because it reduces skin inflammation and helps repair the skin.
Cardamom:
- Cardamom has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that help in multiple ways. Its antimicrobial properties help to fight off bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce inflammation in the body and its antioxidant properties help to curb the free radicals in the body.
- It is a mood booster because its aroma helps soothe your mind and make you feel relaxed.
- Cardamom’s aromatic properties have a positive impact on healing respiratory issues like coughing congestion and asthma.
Cinnamon:
- Cinnamon also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
- The antioxidative properties of cinnamon like polyphenols help to neutralize harmful free radicals in the body which can potentially lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease.
- Cinnamon’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of contributing factors to conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
- The antimicrobial properties help fight various bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.
Clove:
- Clove is a spice derived from the flower buds of the clove trees.
- This black-colored spice has been used since ancient times to improve dental health due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
- Clove oil has been used as a natural analgesic for centuries. analgesic properties refer to the ability of a substance to relieve pain or reduce sensitivity to pain.
- It has analgesic properties due to the high concentration of eugenol.
There are numerous other spices that have medicinal properties and are an integral part of Indian Cuisine. These spices should be used in an ideal quantity and consistently for better results.
If you are thinking of trying Indian cuisine into your diet, consult a certified nutritionist to get a well-framed diet plan that can help you get the essence of flavorful dishes and achieve health goals at the same time.
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