Most weight loss programs say that carbohydrates make you fat. Some of them ban carbs altogether, or allow only very small quantities. But why do Asians—whose diet have a lot of carbs—have lower obesity rates than the Western world? Or how can you adapt a modified carbohydrate diet when your meals are culturally influenced by a lot of noodles and rice?
Here are some tips on how to stay skinny on an Asian diet. This weight loss program is more realistic for Asians, who can’t imagine food without rice or noodles. It also teaches Westerns an ‘Asian way’ of eating carbs that’s healthier and diet-friendly than most people realize.
Weight loss tip # 1: Asians use a lot of mixed-veggie meals.
It’s typical for Asian stir-fries to combine small bits of meat with a lot of vegetables. Even noodles with have toppings like chicken strips or fried tofu, with an assortment of leafy vegetables, carrot slices, and mushrooms.
This is a very smart combination. It has all the elements of a balanced diet, with plenty of flavor, and it’s filling! Compare this to Italian pasta, with its thick sauces, usually served with bread. (Noodles and bread—way too many carbs for one meal.) Asians don’t overload on carbs, they use it to enhance the rest of the dish. So, even without crazy calorie counting, the carbs are only half of the nutritional intake.
Weight loss tip # 2: Asians are not big on desserts.
Asian cuisine is not big on desserts. They tend to serve fruit after a meal, taking full advantage of the variety of fruits available in a tropical climate. And unlike the French pastries or the American pies, these fruits are not ‘processed’ with additional sugars and carbohydrates. They are served fresh, perhaps with shaved ice or a light drizzle of milk.
Weight loss tip # 3: Asians talk while they eat.
For Asians, meals are not just a way to fill an empty stomach. They are often social celebrations. Family members talk, often for hours, as they linger over each dish. It is considered rude in Asian culture to just sit down and eat silently, then leave when one is done.
This naturally leads to one of the most effective weight loss tips: eat more slowly, and savor each bite. (This is also one of the best weight loss tips for avoiding overeating).
Weight loss tip # 4: Asians eat dinner early.
The sun sets early in the Asian part of the world. By five or six p.m, the sky is dark, and this signals the start of dinner. Compare this to Europe, where it’s common to eat dinner at eight or nine p.m.
Eating carbs earlier in the day gives your digestive system time to break down and burn the food. In fact, weight loss experts suggest eating no carbs after six p.m. Asians have been doing this for centuries.
Weight loss tip # 5: Asians have a heavy breakfast.
Asian breakfasts can include a steaming bowl of noodles or fried rice—very heavy! Weight loss experts are now saying this is the best way to start the day. If you’re not hungry, you’re less likely to binge during lunch and dinner.
Photo from daniellebultron.blogspot.com