Crisp vegetable stir-fries from China, bowls of steaming noodle soup with mint and coriander from Vietnam, fiery jungle curries from Thailand, and fill-you-up sushi rolls from Japan. These are just some of the Asian cuisine in Spokane that are tempting our taste buds and winning the tick of approval from nutritionists around the globe.
With its emphasis on vegetables, rice, clear soups, noodles, fresh fruit, fish and lean meat; Asian food is light, yet filling. It is generally low in fat, with most recipes requiring only small amounts of vegetable oils for cooking.
Sweets are healthier too, with none of the rich desserts and pastries of European cuisines. Traditionally, healthy snacks are eaten between meals to help avoid hunger pangs, and to spread food intake over the day.
There are many reasons why nutritionists recommend Asian fare for a healthy heart. Omega 3 fats from the prawns, scallops, mussels, crabs, abalones and other seafood that is so plentiful in Asia. Antioxidants from the many green vegetables, herbs, garlic, onions and green tea.
All these food factors combine to keep blood vessels clear and free of build-up, and to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The total fat in Asian food tends to be low and, because vegetable oils are preferred for cooking, saturated fats are also kept to a minimum.