You might have heard that nobody is perfect and everyone has some deficiencies; similarly, not every type of food is excellent. You can eat particular foods, but you have to avoid others.
Chinese food is famous worldwide due to its attractive-looking menus and flavours filling everyone’s mouth with water. Almost every country has Chinese restaurants, and people go there and eat whatever they want, but it is not the same with diabetes because they have to keep an eye on their carbs intake and control their fat intake.
There are two possible options. One favours diabetics patients, while the other is not recommended for them.
The first option is a hot and sour soup, steamed dumplings, and stir-fried chicken.
While others that are not the best options for patients include white rice, stir-fried beef, and chow mein, you can change the ingredients and how to cook these dishes and enjoy them.
In this article, you will learn about the best and worst types of dishes, guidelines before ordering Chinese foods, how to change your way of cooking to enjoy your favourite food, and many more.
Guidelines to Keep in Mind
- Eat fresh fruit salad made of apple, pineapple, papaya, and orange.
- Fill half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables.
- Avoid mooncakes.
- If you are eating at a restaurant, ask your chef to lower the salt amount because it causes your weight to get stuck; as you know, to reverse diabetes, patients have to lose some weight.
- Avoid duck eggs and salty fish.
- Salt intake should not rise above 2300mg per day.
- Make your food tasty by adding herbs, green onions, ginger, and garlic, which tremendously increase flavours.
- Americans eat processed foods daily, and their salt intake is two to three times higher than people from other continents. They should make porridges, soups, and broths at home without adding salt, by this way, they can prevent their glucose levels from rising. Black bean soups are the best.
- If you are craving dessert, select one made with artificial sweetener. You can have mango pudding and tofu pudding, and if you are eating from outside, always check labels on which sugar and carbs amount is mentioned.
- If you are cooking at home, prefer artificial sweeteners.
- Iron-rich seaweed and black mushrooms are recommended.
Add Lean Protein to Your Plate
Lean protein options include chicken and fish. Saturated fats are low in this. While pork, mutton, and beef contain high amounts of saturated fats. Therefore nutrition suggests not including more than 10% of saturated fats. Saturated fats increase the chances of stroke and heart disease.
One-quarter of a plate of diabetics should be filled with protein.
There are plant-based protein options for those who don’t like chicken. Such as Tofu. Tofu is made by coagulating soy milk and is an excellent source of protein containing about 17 g of protein. Tofu has mind-blowing benefits as it prevents cardiovascular diseases, promotes bone health, and performs cognitive functions.
Add Green Leafy Vegetables to Your Meal
Rice and noodles are staples of Chinese foods, and both are rich sources of carbs; high carbs intake is restricted for patients, so enjoy the goodness of rice and noodles, try to add non-starchy vegetables such as tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, beetroots, turnips, and mushrooms.
Add Healthy Oils
Avocado oil and peanut oil are good options compared to butter and ghee. Avocado contains oleic acid, a healthy fat that reduces cholesterol, prevents cardiovascular diseases, and has antioxidants that improve vision.
What kind of Chinese Food is Good for a Diabetic?
- Chicken and Broccoli
Chicken is a source of lean protein, and carbs content is low, while broccoli is a non-starchy vegetable that is a safe dish for people with diabetes. People with diabetes should avoid mutton and broccoli because beef and mutton have high levels of saturated fats and will raise blood sugar levels. This dish is stir-fried, and lots of sauces are added; sauces may contain sodium which is not that good for people with diabetes.
- Egg Rolls
When people look at a Chinese language menu, egg rolls are considerably more likely to be the item they choose than modern spring rolls. Although its crackly, crispy outside is to die for, the deep-frying process required to get the egg roll’s signature golden crust results in each serving has roughly 220 calories and 10 grams of fat.
These statistics could be healthier for everyone.
- Steamed dumplings
steamed dumplings made from pork, meat, and vegetables; some are made with chicken, cabbage, and potatoes. You can order dumplings filled with vegetables.
A medium steamed dumpling weighing 37 grams has 41.8 calories, 1.7 g of fat, 4.1 g of carbs, 0.4 g of fibre, 0.9 g of sugar, and 2.5 g of protein.
- Baked Salmon
Salmon has many DHA and EPA, two omega-3 fatty acids beneficial for diabetes. Fish lowers the risks of cardiovascular disease and inflammation, which are widespread in diabetics and the patients’ need for healthy fat in their diet. In diabetics, it lowers blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
- Boiled Noodles
Nutritionists recommend eating whole grains, like wheat, barley, rice, and noodles are also a type of whole grains. Whole grains have more fibre, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. If noodles are boiled, instead of adding cream cheese and stir-frying, add tomato paste in it. Saturated fat content in cooked noodles is in minute amounts, making it possible for diabetic patients to eat.
- Sugar-Free Sesame Chicken
Chicken is considered a source of lean protein, and carbs contents are also low so that people with diabetes can eat it; this dish is incomplete without a sprinkle of sesame seeds, which lower the risks of type 2 diabetes, and it has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, and have the properties of antioxidants and acts as an anti-inflammatory. It reduces cholesterol levels and helps fat metabolism as well.
- Steamed salmon with eggplant
Salmon has many DHA and EPA, two omega-3 fatty acids beneficial for diabetes.
Fish lowers the risks of cardiovascular disease and inflammation, which are widespread in diabetics and the patients’ need for healthy fat in their diet.
In diabetics, it lowers blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
- Wanton Soup
One wanton contains 4g of carbs; if you have, remember not to take extra carbs from different foods.
Is Chinese Food Bad for Diabetes?
Some foods that spikes glucose levels are given below
- Chow Mien
They are made of white refined flour, raise blood glucose levels, and mainly comprise carbs; carbs break down fast, and therefore body needs more food, which results in weight gain.
- White Fried Rice
White rice also has a high amount of carbs; if you are craving to eat rice, you prefer brown rice. Rice equal to one scoop of ice cream is more than enough, and eat it with steamed vegetables.
- Tso Chicken
It is the worst option that a person with diabetes can choose; sauce contains lots of sugar one serving provides at least 1500 cal. So avoid eating it.
FAQs:
Can Diabetics Eat pizza?
By changing the topping of pizza with vegetables, you can eat it. Order pizza that has a thin crust.
Can a Diabetic Eat Chinese Spare Ribs?
No, ribs have high fat; an oz serving provides 100 calories.
What is the Healthiest Chinese Food Takeout?
- Egg drop soup
- Happy family meal
- Tofu soup
- Chicken and broccoli
What Chinese Food is Low in Cholesterol?
Hot and sour soup and steamed dumplings are low in cholesterol. At the same time, fried rice can spike glucose levels.
Is there any Chinese food Containing Less than 400 Calories?
- Chinese chicken salad
- Chinese pepper steak
- Chinese steamed fish have calories lower than 400.
Can Type 2 Diabetes and Chinese Food?
The condition can worsen if patients eat fries, rice, and noodles. But if the patient chooses steamed veggies, boiled or baked chicken, there is no harm.