Thai cuisine offers some better choices when it comes to takeaway, Bilinski says. She advises against fried or battered foods, curries made with coconut milk or cream, and richer sauces. Thai salads are a great option as they tend to have less oil.
The health benefits of Thai food
Thai also tends to have fewer carbohydrates than other ethnic cuisines like Indian or Chinese. This makes Thai a great choice for those who are trying to lose weight! Thai is most often cooked with coconut oil, which is high in MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides).
Thai dishes are often lighter and more refreshing, while Indian dishes tend to be richer and heavier. Ultimately, it all comes down to the individual's taste and there's no definitive answer as to which is better. Spicy Indian food is distinct due to the combination of many distinct spices.
There are many differences between Thai and Indian food. Indian food, on one hand, uses a combination of Indian food spices as a rub on the vegetables and meat. The food may or may not be cooked in tomatoes but is not heavily saucy. Thai food, on the other hand, uses a variety of pastes made from fresh ingredients.
“Go for grilled dishes over fried; chicken and fish over fattier meats, like lamb; tomato or veggie sauces rather than creamy ones; and steamed rice over fried,” advises Laura. She also suggests avoiding sides and other add ons unless they're vegetables as well as eating mindfully and being aware of portion sizes.
Swap your naan for a couple of poppadums topped with raita or tomato sambal, and choose plain over pilau rice, which is cooked with extra oil. Healthier options: Tomato-based or dry curries like tandoori, madras, jalfrezi, rogan and bhuna dishes; plain rice, roti, poppadums.
Thai curries have a brighter flavor and soupier consistency, because they use lots of fresh herbs and are cooked for less time than Indian curries. It's worth your time stocking up on some of the unique ingredients — you can freeze herbs like lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves for multiple future uses.
Thai food is often healthier than Chinese food. Thai food puts a focus on balance and variety. They are often light and the aromas are just as important as the taste of the food. Thai food uses less heavy sauces and oils than Chinese food uses that are healthier for you, if any oil at all.
Jasmine rice hails from Thailand, while basmati comes from India and Pakistan. They're both long grain varieties, which means they cook up fluffy and not very sticky. Their grains also remain distinct, although jasmine is plumper, softer, and a bit more moist than basmati, which has a firmer chew and drier character.
All these countries eat mainly fresh produce, plenty of fish and less junk food than most other countries. A trip to the local Thai market with its array of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and seafood makes it easy to see why the Thais rank so high in the longevity tables.
Thai Red Curry vs.
While the dish's spiciness can vary based on the chef, typically, red curry is hotter than green. Red curry tends to be more versatile, while green is more unique in its flavors.
Thai curry is typically not a healthy dish given that it typically consists of several high-fat ingredients, such as high-fat coconut milk and potentially fattier protein sources, as well as copious amounts of rice, making a very high-calorie meal.
1/ Okinawan diet – Japan
Widely considered to be one of the healthiest diets in the world, the Okinawan diet has numerous health benefits. So much so that Japan has the lowest obesity rates and second longest life expectancy of any developed country.
Doctors especially love the Mediterranean diet. It's so good for you. Local ingredients, small portion sizes, and a plethora of different foods to choose from make this cuisine the absolute best choice for healthy eating. Mediterranean isn't just Greek food either, it is French, Israeli, Lebanese, Spanish, etc.
What makes Thai food so different from other cuisines is its use of contrasting flavors. Thai food often pairs hot spices with sweet, light citrus flavors like lime and mango. The signature peanut sauce is somewhere between sweet and savory and adds depth to any dish.
Any Indian curries that are tomato-based, like tandoori, madras, jalfrezi, rogan and bhuna, are the lowest in calories. They average around 200-300 calories. If you want an even healthier option, consider a sauce-free dish like fish tikka (which is only 180 calories).
With spices like turmeric, black pepper, red pepper, cardamom, cumin, coriander and much more, the Indian curry can definitely contribute to good health.
Green curry is great with chicken and shrimp because it offers a punch of seasoning to the protein. The long list of herbs also makes green curry one of the healthiest Thai cuisine dishes. You may also see green curry in Thai fusion dishes like pasta or sandwiches.
Biryani is not an ideal food choice for individuals looking to lose weight since it contains many calories and fat. In addition, the combination of rice, meat, and spices in biryani add many calories and saturated fat, while ghee or oil used for cooking further contributes to the calorie and fat content.