For those who love sticky rice, it is difficult to resist the appeal of banh chung during Tet. However, some people should limit or, best of all, avoid eating banh chung.
Banh chung is a traditional, nutritious dish, but some people should not eat it.
Why diabetics should limit eating banh chung
The main nutritional component of banh chung is starch. Sticky rice has a high glycemic index of up to 85. At the same time, the more thoroughly the starch is cooked, the faster it is absorbed and converted into sugar into the blood. Therefore, this is a dish that diabetics should limit to avoid increased blood sugar and dangerous complications.
According to Physician Phuc Minh, banh chung has high nutritional value and is a combination of many flavors such as the fragrant sticky rice, the sweet taste of green beans, the fatty taste of fatty meat along with the characteristic aroma of pepper, onion, and dong leaves. However, banh chung is rich in sugar, protein, and fat. A large banh chung with all the ingredients can provide up to 2,500 calories, equivalent to about 6 bowls of chicken pho. Therefore, people with diabetes and those who need to lose weight should not eat too much.
Eating banh chung without control, especially during Tet, will increase the rate of blood sugar increase rapidly, especially fried banh chung. For diabetic patients, the diet needs to control the amount of carbohydrates. When diabetic patients take in carbohydrates, the body will create sugar sooner than protein and fat. However, that does not mean that diabetics must completely abstain from this traditional dish, but can still enjoy a small, appropriate amount.
According to nutritionists, to ensure health and not increase blood sugar when eating banh chung, diabetic patients need to have a reasonable way of eating. Each time, they should only eat about 1/8 of a cake, equivalent to the amount of starch in a bowl of white rice, and each time should be at least 8 hours apart.
After eating banh chung, you should reduce the amount of rice and starchy foods such as sticky rice, rice noodles, and vermicelli. At the same time, you should eat more meat, vegetables, salads, etc., which are high in fiber, to help reduce the absorption of starch before eating banh chung. Fiber and protein will slow down the absorption of starch in banh chung, preventing increased blood sugar.
In addition, doctors recommend regularly measuring and monitoring the body's blood sugar index, especially before and after eating banh chung, so that you can adjust your diet appropriately. If it increases a lot, you should reduce the amount of banh chung in the next meal.
What should heart patients pay attention to when eating banh chung?
The ingredients in banh chung affect cardiovascular health if consumed in excess, especially for people with a history of heart disease, specifically:
Sticky rice:Contains a lot of carbohydrates, when entering the body will be converted into sugar. If this amount of sugar is not consumed, it will be converted into excess fat, causing weight gain and affecting the cardiovascular system.
Fatty meat: Contains a lot of saturated fat and cholesterol, which can increase bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, causing atherosclerosis and increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke.
Salt:Some types of banh chung can contain a lot of salt, causing high blood pressure, an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Although people with heart disease can eat banh chung, they need to limit it and follow some principles:
Eat in small amounts:You should only eat a small piece of banh chung, preferably in the morning, and combine it with lots of green vegetables to provide fiber and aid digestion.
Choose low-fat cakes:Prioritize vegetarian banh chung or banh chung with less fatty meat.
Avoid fried banh chung:Fried banh chung contains more fat and calories, which is not good for the heart.
Do not eat with pickles or pickled onions:Pickled foods contain a lot of salt which is not good for people with heart disease and high blood pressure.
People with cardiovascular disease should maintain a healthy diet, low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. Although people with heart disease can eat banh chung in small amounts and follow the above principles, after eating banh chung, they need to monitor their blood pressure along with other health indicators. It is best to consult a doctor or nutritionist for specific advice on diet, including whether to eat banh chung.
Eating a lot of banh chung is not good for people who are trying to lose weight.
People who are losing weight should avoid eating banh chung.
Banh chung is very delicious and attractive, but for people who are in the process of losing weight, banh chung is not an ideal choice for the following reasons:
High Calories:Banh chung is made from sticky rice, fatty meat and green beans, all of which are energy-rich ingredients. A medium-sized banh chung can contain 1,700-2,000 calories, equivalent to nearly half of an adult's daily calorie requirement. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Nutrition, a banh chung weighing about 1 kg, including 600g of sticky rice; 200g of green beans and 300g of pork belly, will have about 2,000 calories. Consuming too many calories will lead to excess fat accumulation and weight gain.
Rich in carbohydrates:Sticky rice contains a lot of carbohydrates, which when entering the body will be converted into sugar. If this amount of sugar is not consumed, it will be converted into excess fat.
Indigestible:Sticky rice is sticky and sticky. Eating too much can cause bloating and indigestion, especially for people with poor digestive systems.
High in fat:The fatty meat in banh chung contains a lot of saturated fat, which is not good for heart health and also contributes to weight gain.
Fried Banh Chung:Fried banh chung is fried in oil, which increases calories and fat, causing indigestion and faster weight gain.
Causes bloating and flatulence:Banh chung is difficult to digest and can cause bloating, flatulence, and discomfort.
In addition, eating too much banh chung can also cause hyperlipidemia because the amount of fat in banh chung increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The amount of carbohydrates in banh chung easily increases blood sugar, which is especially dangerous for people with diabetes.
Therefore, people who are trying to lose weight should limit the amount of banh chung they eat. If they want to eat, they should only eat a small amount and should eat it in the morning, combined with lots of green vegetables and increased exercise to burn energy. Avoid eating fried banh chung, especially avoid eating it in the evening.
HA (according to Health and Life)Other cases that should limit or avoid eating banh chung include: People with uncontrolled high blood pressure; People with high blood fat; People who are obese or overweight and people with a history of allergies to ingredients in banh chung.