Polish Christmas Eve supper high in calories and indigestible
Although "pierogi " (dumplings), cabbage stew and fried fish are examples of Polish traditional Christmas dishes, they are not to good for our health, stressed Agnieszka Bialek-Dratwa from the Medical University of Silesia.
According to the dietician, the first deadly sin of the Polish Christmas supper is that it is eaten too late in the evening. What is more, the ingredients used in the majority of Polish traditional dishes are difficult to digest which may cause gastric discomforts.
The biggest enemy of our digestive system are "pierogi". Semi-circle shaped dumplings filled with cooked sauerkraut cabbage mixed with fried mushrooms and topped with oil or lard can be very unhealthy. "The dish is rich in fat and when heated it becomes full of trans fats which lead to different kinds of cardiovascular diseases", warned Bialek-Dratwa.
The same story is with fried fish. Here, the preparation is inappropriate. "If we cooked or steamed or even baked it in the oven, instead of frying it, it would be better for our stomachs", added the dietician. Finally, the cabbage stew with split peas can cause excessive accumulation of gas in our intestines.
Polish Christmas desserts appear equally harmful to our health so we should not eat too many slices of "piernik" (gingerbread) or "makowiec" (poppy seed cake).
Does it mean that all Polish Christmas dishes are unhealthy and should be avoided? Not necessarily, says Agnieszka Bialek-Dratwa. Polish traditional dried fruit compote helps our digestion as it contains a lot of fibre. We can also add less sugar to cakes or replace it with honey. Moreover, a little bit of physical activity instead of a shot of vodka will be definitely better for our health. And if we are still feeling unwell, we can drink a glass of lemon water or a cup of herbal tea. (PAP)
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