Pad Thai is a traditional Thai dish that is now popular all around the world.
It comes in several different varieties.
In this article, we'll talk about the benefits and the potential side effects it may have on your health.
Pad Thai requires no introduction when it comes to Thai cuisine. It was introduced to Thailand by Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram in the early 1930s. Over the years, it has become the most popular Thai dish among both locals and foreigners.
Simply put, Pad Thai is a preparation of stir-fried rice noodles loaded with tofu, garlic, lime, peanuts, sprouts, and more. It boasts an amazing balance of five different flavors such as sour, salty, sweet, spicy, and bitter.
While there's no argument about Pad Thai's deliciousness, let's understand how good (or bad) it is for your health.
Nutritional Value of Pad Thai
Pad Thai's nutritional value depends on the ingredients it's prepared with. In general, it contains a good amount of carbohydrates, fats, calories, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, folate, copper, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, protein, and more.
Health Benefits of Pad Thai
Thanks to its rich nutrition profile, Pad Thai offers a number of benefits to your health.
Pad Thai (with rice noodles being the key ingredient) is rich in carbohydrates. Hence, it provides your body with energy, keeping you active throughout the day.
Selenium, present abundantly in the dish, is highly effective at improving the functions of your immune system. It also has vitamin C which boosts white blood cell production, which further aids in your immunity.
Pad Thai contains a high amount of protein. As you may already know, protein builds and repairs muscles, and also helps boost the metabolic rate of your body. In the long run, it may help you lose some weight as well.
It also is loaded with vitamin A, zeaxanthin, lutein, etc. which are beneficial for your eye health. These nutrients boost vision, and also reduce your risk of cataracts& macular degeneration.
Side Effects of Pad Thai
Being exceptionally high in carbohydrates, Pad Thai may increase your risk of type-2 diabetes and several other issues.
Pad Thai (with fish sauce, soy sauce, and shrimp being the main ingredients) is rich in sodium. As studies have found, too much consumption of sodium is associated with issues like hypertension, heart diseases, and more.
