February 7, 2018
An average Pakistani diet consists of meat curries, rice, and dashes of colourful spices and nutritional herbs which contribute to a healthy population.
In the UK, people are always on the look out for a new national diet from countries that boast an average life span of 140 years, where people work with boundless energy and happiness into their nineties and celebrate 70th birthdays looking more youthful and beautiful than most forty-year-old westerners.
There is a diet that has already existed in the UK for a long time that actually has great benefits to a healthy lifestyle – Pakistani cuisine. Here we share a few Pakistani food staples that are healthier than you thought:
Turmeric, coriander and ginger are some of the spices used abundantly in Pakistani cooking. Not only do these spices give great colour, flavour and aroma to dishes, they can also help treat certain ailments such as stomach ache, flu, bloating, gas, heartburn and diarrhoea. If you suffer from intestinal problems, cardamom is another spice generously used in our cuisine which helps treat your gut.
This Pakistani staple was traditionally made using wheat, but now they are made from multigrain flour packed with wheat, jowar, bajra and barley. These ingredients are full of fibre, which is great for normalising bowel movements.
This special grain is a beloved favourite in Pakistan and has been used for centuries. It wasn’t until recent scientific study that we realised quite how beneficial it can be for us. Steamed white rice, contrary to belief, boosts the intake of zinc and essential minerals. Proteins that control gene activity, support tissue structure and boos metabolism rely on this zinc to function.
Rice is also high in manganese, which activates a number of proteins needed for cell function. It allows the body to derive energy from nutrients, boost collagen production to support wound healing and also acts as an antioxidant.
Spinach and tomatoes are the superfoods used a lot in Pakistani cuisine. They contain high levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Dishes such as saag aloo and aloo gobi are great healthy choices as the majority of them don’t use cream or cheese.
Regular consumption of spicy foods speeds up metabolism and can actually help you burn more fat. They contain the chemical compound capsaicin which has anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, and anti-diabetic properties.
Visit Royal Nawaab’s Halal restaurant in Manchester and enjoy our grand selection of Pakistani cuisine.
