Bánh Chưng: A Traditional Vietnamese Dish Essential for Tet Bánh chưng is a staple food during the Tet holiday in Vietnam. This dish is packed with nutrients, but it’s not suitable for everyone.
For a long time, Vietnamese people have regarded bánh chưng as a symbol of spiritual culinary culture, representing wealth and prosperity, and bringing good luck.
However, bánh chưng is not just a filling food; it is also very nutritious. It is considered a valuable medicinal dish that enhances health and prevents diseases. It is particularly suitable for enjoying at the beginning of the year as a way to increase luck and support health.
Bánh chưng is a traditional dish for Vietnamese people during Tet. However, it is not a good food choice for everyone. Currently, many people face health issues that require them to avoid sticky rice and fatty foods, which means they should refrain from consuming bánh chưng.
Bánh chưng is not only filling but also very nutritious.
According to general practitioner Bùi Đắc Sáng (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi Traditional Medicine Association), to understand how bánh chưng benefits our health, we need to analyze the ingredients that create this dish:
- Sticky Rice: It has a sweet taste, warm properties, and benefits the lungs, alleviating sweating. It can be used to treat symptoms of weakness, digestive issues, nausea, dizziness…
- Pork: In Traditional Medicine, pork is known as “trư nhục,” with a sweet and salty taste and neutral properties, nourishing the skin, blood, and vital organs. It is especially a source of protein for the body, aiding growth and health in both children and adults.
- Mung Beans: Known as “lục đậu” in Traditional Medicine, mung beans have a sweet taste, cooling properties, and are non-toxic. They aid in detoxification, improve vision, and nourish the skin. Mung beans are rich in protein, lipids, amino acids, and essential vitamins, making them vital for the elderly, children, or those suffering from weakness.
- Pepper: With a spicy and warm taste, it helps with digestion, reduces phlegm, and warms the stomach. It can treat stomach cold, vomiting, and fullness.
- Salt: A rich source of sodium, it helps maintain stable blood pressure and is beneficial for skin, electrolyte balance, and brain health.
- Dong Leaves: In Traditional Medicine, dong leaves have a mild sweet taste and cooling properties. They help cool the blood, detoxify, and can be used for treating snake bites, hangovers, and digestive disorders when combined with other ingredients.
If you have the following health issues, you should be cautious and limit or avoid this nutritious dish to ensure a healthy and fulfilling Tet celebration.
Individuals Who Should Avoid (or Limit) Eating Bánh Chưng:
Kidney Disease
For individuals with kidney issues, often accompanied by symptoms like high blood pressure, lipid disorders, or hyperlipidemia, it is essential to avoid bánh chưng due to its high-fat content.
Overweight or Obesity
Overweight individuals should consume very little bánh chưng as it is high in calories and carbohydrates. Particularly, those suffering from obesity should avoid bánh chưng altogether, especially fried bánh chưng, which is extremely high in energy and fat.
If you maintain the tradition of eating bánh chưng with pickled onions and cold meat during Tet, it can be dangerous, as pickled onions contain high salt levels, and the other two foods are high in fat, which is not suitable for those with kidney issues accompanied by high blood pressure or edema.
Skin Conditions (Boils)
Individuals with boils should eat less bánh chưng, as it is made from sticky rice, which can generate heat in the body and exacerbate the condition. Since bánh chưng is made from sticky rice, it is a food you must strictly avoid if you have boils, as it can cause swelling, ulceration, or even pus formation. Therefore, for clear skin free of acne, you should avoid heat-inducing foods such as bánh chưng, bánh tét, spicy peppers, and fried foods, and instead opt for healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.
Eating bánh chưng or sticky rice in general can raise body temperature, leading to irritability and discomfort, especially for those with a hot temper. Therefore, you should not consume too much bánh chưng during this Tet holiday.
Stomach Ulcers
Bánh chưng, which typically contains sticky rice and mung beans, is not suitable for individuals with stomach ulcers, as these two ingredients can create gas, causing discomfort, indigestion, and acid reflux. Consuming too much sticky rice can lead to a persistent feeling of fullness and discomfort in the stomach, increasing the likelihood of acid reflux.
High Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Diseases
Individuals with high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases need to follow a dietary regimen to maintain their health. Those individuals should limit their consumption of bánh chưng to protect their well-being.
Diabetes
“Can diabetic patients eat bánh chưng?” is a question many people wonder about. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doãn Thị Tường Vy (Deputy Director of the Clinical Nutrition Institute) states that bánh chưng is a high-energy food rich in fats, proteins, vitamins, and sugars, making it unsuitable for individuals with metabolic disorders, especially diabetics.
For diabetics, eating bánh chưng can cause a spike in blood sugar levels, making the condition harder to control. You may want to consult your doctor if you still wish to enjoy this dish.
Diabetics should avoid excessive bánh chưng due to blood sugar spikes.
Eating Bánh Chưng with Pickled Onions: Important Considerations
Eating pickled onions with bánh chưng can aid in quicker digestion. Therefore, when consuming bánh chưng, it is advisable to pair it with pickled vegetables, salted onions, or kimchi to enhance digestion and help avoid weight gain. However, for individuals with high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues, it is best to avoid pairing bánh chưng with pickled onions due to the high salt content.
Who Should Avoid Fried Bánh Chưng
Bánh chưng already contains a significant amount of fat; frying it in oil increases the fat content even more. This not only leads to weight gain but also poses health risks for individuals with high blood pressure, lipid disorders, cardiovascular diseases, or kidney issues. Especially for those with a history of stomach problems, fried bánh chưng should be avoided as it may worsen their conditions.
Avoid Eating Bánh Chưng at Night
Bánh chưng is very high in energy, so it should only be eaten for breakfast or lunch, when the body is still active and can burn off the energy, avoiding consumption at night.
