When you step into a Thai restaurant, you expect to be served a delicious meal. But did you know that Thai cuisine is also a healthy one? In addition to the mouthwatering flavor, some dishes offer health benefits due to the many fresh herbs and spices used in cooking. Here’s a closer look at a few of the curiously healthy ingredients.

What Makes Thai Cuisine Healthy?

1. Turmeric

Turmeric, the main spice in curry, is hailed for its anti-inflammatory properties. It contains curcumin, an active ingredient that helps in reducing swelling and pain associated with excess inflammation. Turmeric seems effective in reducing fat buildup in the liver, improving cholesterol levels, and alleviating pain from arthritis. If you want to experience these benefits, eat yellow curry with rice or soup.

2. Lemongrass

A fragrant herb, lemongrass is a staple ingredient in Thai restaurants. Apart from its lemony aroma, it’s said to relieve pain, alleviate digestive problems, boost immunity, and reduce fever. It also contains several antioxidants, which combat free radicals in the body. Take lemongrass as a tea or in your Tom Yum soup.

3. Chilies

It’s no secret that Thai cuisine is spicy thanks to the chilies. While biting a pepper gets many people’s heart racing, eating one also offers plenty of health benefits. Chili peppers are rich in vitamins, minerals like copper and potassium, and antioxidant carotenoids. Capsaicin, the compound behind the hot flavor, helps in speeding up metabolism, soothing pain, and clearing the sinuses. So the next time you drop by a Thai restaurant, make your pad thai spicy for an extra dose of chilies.

4. Coriander

Another Thai cooking mainstay, coriander is used either as a seed or herb to spice up a recipe. As an ancient medicine, it was used to treat digestion problems, gastrointestinal issues, and infections caused by bacteria or fungus. Coriander stimulates the appetite, too. Reap its multitude of benefits with fresh spring rolls, chicken larb, or bowl of Tom Yum.

5. Ginger

In Thai cuisine, ginger comes in the form of galangal. As such, it offers many of the same health benefits, primarily in treating stomach-related troubles. It contains high amounts of gingerol, a bioactive compound with anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant effects. Ginger can reduce nausea and vomiting, alleviate abdominal cramps, and remedy diarrhea. It is often diced, sliced, or crushed to add flavor and fragrance to the dish.

Are you in the mood for some healthy Thai food? Head over to Mamasan’s, a Thai restaurant in Rochester, NY. Since opening its doors in 1984, they’ve offered a mouthwatering array of noodles, rolls, salads, and soups from Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Call (585) 461-3290 to order carry-out or check out their sumptuous menu online.