Why is Indian food healthier than others?
India is a land where different ideas, cultures, food habits, faiths, ethnicities and languages have confluenced seamlessly to give our nation its unique identity as we say, “Unity in Diversity". Among all the other features, what keeps our country at an exalted pedestal is Indian food which is a perfect mix of taste and nutrition.
What images are conjured up immediately when you think of Indian food?
Like most people, terms like ‘spicy', ‘exotic’, ‘filling', ’greasy' and ‘caloric’ may cross your mind while talking about typical Indian platters. But what goes underrated is the medicinal and health benefits you can reap through using the authentic Indian spices that make your food delectable and flavoursome.
Here are 5 important reasons why traditional Indian food has greater health benefits compared to others:
- Freshness factor- Most of the traditional Indian dishes are made of fresh vegetables that help retain their nutrients. As for example, sambar one of the very common Indian cuisines is cooked with fresh tomatoes, drumsticks, carrots, radish, lady's finger and other vegetables in a boiling mixture of lentil, tamarind and spices. Each of these ingredients is a rich source of various nutrients. You can pamper your taste buds with this traditional Indian platter and reap its benefits simultaneously.
- Fewer preservatives- Most of the Indian dishes are made of fresh ingredients which means you are consuming fewer preservatives. It means you are overall, eating healthier portions.
- Balanced proportion: Almost all traditional Indian meals comprise of a balanced quantity of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats and other nutrients that help in your bodybuilding and keeping various ailments at bay.
- Spicy touch- You can hardly ever imagine of Indian cuisine without using spices and herbs like ginger, turmeric, coriander, curry leaves, green chillies and many more. While consuming a spicy dish you must know it is actually doing to your health and not just triggering your digestive enzymes.
- Probiotic add-ons- Pickles and yoghurt are the two most beneficial probiotic foods you should include in your diet. Pickles are made of leaves and vegetables marinated in a mixture of salt (black/rock salt), spices and oil. It makes your meal more appetizing and aids in digestion. Yoghurt, on the other hand has high amount of beneficial bacteria called Lactobacillus which improves your digestion and helps in shedding excess calories from your body.
So, it goes without saying that a traditional Indian meal is a storehouse of essential nutrients which has a holistic impact on your health.