Experts assessed the impact of pan-Asian cuisine on weight and hormones
Pan-Asian cuisine, for all its popularity, can imperceptibly affect weight control due to the combination of hidden sugars, sauces and high-calorie dishes. Experts point out that the key role is played not by the kitchen itself, but by the cooking method, portion size, and ingredient balance. All the details are in the Izvestia article.
How Pan-Asian cuisine affects metabolism
Natalia Tananakina, Candidate of Medical Sciences, endocrinologist at JSC "Medicine", told Izvestia that pan-Asian dishes by themselves do not disrupt metabolism, but their frequent use can make it difficult to control body weight.
According to the expert, the main feature lies in sauces such as teriyaki and unagi. They contain sugar, soy sauce and sweet rice wine, which makes the dish higher in calories and increases the salt level. In combination with rice or noodles, this leads to sudden glucose spikes and increased appetite after a few hours.
In addition, large portions of carbohydrates and frying in oil increase the glycemic load. At the same time, boiled rice with vegetables and protein is absorbed much more mildly than dishes with sauces and a minimum fiber content.
The role of sauces, salt, and cooking method
The doctor emphasizes that pan-Asian cuisine can affect appetite hormones and insulin sensitivity with regular overeating. This can increase cravings for sweets and make it difficult for predisposed people to lose weight.
"Pan-Asian food does not directly affect the hormonal balance, but through repeated sugar peaks and excess calories it can affect appetite hormones and insulin sensitivity. If you regularly overeat dishes with lots of white rice, noodles and sweet sauces, predisposed people have increased cravings for sweets, it becomes more difficult to lose weight and the risk of insulin resistance is higher," explained Tananakina.
At the same time, there are also healthy elements in the diet — fish, seafood, vegetables and tofu. Their combination with moderate portions and sauce control allows you to maintain a balanced diet.
Which dishes are considered more healthy?
Anna Shafer, a leading dietitian at the multidisciplinary clinic K+31 on Lobachevsky Street, noted that pan-Asian cuisine can be part of a healthy diet, but much depends on the composition of the dish. The most balanced food is considered to be one that combines protein, vegetables and a moderate portion of carbohydrates. It includes soups with meat and herbs, poke with fish and vegetables, wok dishes with a minimum amount of sauce and steamed dishes.
"A typical restaurant format is often more high—calorie, because it has more sauces, oil, salt and spectacular serving, designed for a bright taste, rather than a minimum calorie content," said Shafer.
Experts agree that pan-Asian cuisine can be made healthier by reducing sweet sauces, reducing portions of rice and noodles, and increasing the proportion of vegetables in the diet.
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