What Are the Health Benefits of Thai Cuisine?

Thai food is currently considered to be one of the best cuisines to enjoy for added health benefits. The biggest factor in the health benefits of Thai cuisine is the wide variety of fresh herbs and spices that are used to season each dish, each of which contains a wealth of beneficial qualities that help to boost your health. The best way to get the most out of Thai food is to use as many fresh ingredients as possible, making as many elements of a dish from scratch as possible. Here are some of the most commonly used ingredients in Thai cooking, and the health benefits that they each contain.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is used in a wide variety of Thai dishes but is also used alone for medicinal purposes, so it is clear that there are many benefits to including the ingredient in dishes. It is predominantly used as a remedy for colds, with the lemongrass boasting properties that can relieve headaches, fevers and stomach aches.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that is frequently added to Thai dishes. It has several benefits, which are created by curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice. Firstly, turmeric is a great anti-oxidant, which helps to protect the body from toxins. It is also an anti-inflammatory, helping to relieve inflammation from arthritis, allergy and other conditions. As well as this, it is good for the heart, promoting good blood function and circulation. Turmeric is used primarily in Thai curries, especially yellow curries, with the spice adding to the vibrant colour.

Coconut Milk

While it is one of the fattier ingredients used in Thai cooking, coconut milk, which is used in many Thai curries, actually has a great deal of health benefits. The good fats present in the milk help to promote good cholesterol, as well as providing some much-needed fatty acids. It also helps to boost immunity.

Chillies

Chillies are a common ingredient in many Thai dishes, particularly the Thai curries. It is widely known that chillies have a variety of proven health benefits. Firstly, they help to keep the heart healthy, but it also works to regulate insulin and glucose levels. There are also studies to suggest that chillies can aid in getting you better quality sleep!

Galangal

Used for both cooking and medicine in many Southeast Asian countries, galangal, which is a relative of ginger, is a spice used to treat a whole host of ailments, as well as make a dish taste delicious! Galangal is a bit of an all-rounder when it comes to treating health concerns, as it has been used as a remedy for everything from sickness to the hiccups! It is particularly good for stomach problems, helping to calm a bad tummy and ease the digestion process. As this ingredient is mostly only popular in Asian cuisine, it can be a little tricky to get your hands on, so fresh ginger can be a great substitute, offering similar benefits.

Coriander

Thai cooking makes use of both the fresh coriander leaves and the seeds of the coriander. Fresh coriander offers some great nutrients to the body, while the seeds are particularly good at battling digestive problems and gastrointestinal issues. While coriander is a bit of a controversial ingredient in the West, it proves very popular in Thailand and is used to season many dishes.

If you’d like to try making your own Thai food in the UK, then check out the range of ingredients available at Oriental Mart!