Do you know what stinky tofu is? This is known as a Chinese form of fermented tofu that has a strong odor. This food is usually sold at night markets or roadside stands as a snack, or in lunch bars as a side dish, rather than in restaurants. Stinky tofu is made by preparing a brine made from fermented milk, vegetables, and meat. Moreover, the brine can also include dried shrimp, amaranth greens, mustard greens, bamboo shoots, and Chinese herbs. The brine can promote natural microbial fermentation that results in its unique stinky smell. For this reason, tofu should be soaked in the liquid for 4-6 hours to develop its flavor. On the other hand, due to the presence of healthy ingredients in stinky tofu, then this food has the great nutrients contained. As the consequence, to give you more information, we have listed the health benefits of stinky tofu below.
1. Provides Fiber
The first health benefit provided by stinky tofu is the presence of fiber content in it. This fiber food will be just great to promote body health. It is known that fiber plays a major role in promoting digestive health as well as promoting the absorption of nutrients in the gut. As a result, fiber food like stinky tofu is the one that you may have to consume regularly. Indeed, you will achieve the best health results of fiber.
2. Provides Protein
Stinky tofu also has a good amount of protein which is beneficial to promote the formation of muscles. What is even greater from protein in stinky tofu is the way it can build energy as well. Theferore, as you consume this food regularly, you will get more energy to do activities in the day then. You can also check on Benefits of Banza Pasta
3. Provides Probiotics
One of the health benefits of stinky tofu is to provide probiotics. This is due to the fermentation process involved in the making of tofu. As a result, probiotics will help to promote a healthy gut and improve digestion. Indeed, it is linked to the presence of healthy bacteria as probiotics support this function. Thus, if you want to get the benefits of probiotics, it is advised to consume tofu, and other fermented foods such as cheese and yogurt as well. You can also check on What Are The Benefits of Drinking Kevita Probiotic for Health
4. Provides Minerals
Stinky tofu contributes to providing minerals. In this case, it offers the source of iron, potassium, and magnesium as well. We know that these essential minerals can help to boost body function. For example, iron takes part in promoting the hemoglobin formation in the body. Not only for that, iron has a role in transporting the oxygen from one cell body to another. Besides, potassium can help to balance body fluids. Further, to get these great benefits, you can get it by eating stinky tofu!
5. Low in Fat
As a matter of fact, tofu provides the source of fiber and protein, but it has low-fat content. Moreover, eating tofu can help you to reduce cholesterol levels. Thus, if you want to reduce the intake of fat and cholesterol foods, then stinky tofu can be something that should be taken into account.
6. Promotes Digestive Health
As the digestion system is one of the main system parts of our body, then it is a must to keep it being healthy. At this point, stinky tofu can help you in a great way. As fiber in tofu will maximize the work of the gastrointestinal system, then it will also be beneficial to prevent digestive problems. Indeed, it can help to reduce the risks of digestive problems such as constipation, bloating, and gas. Therefore, you can start to consume stinky tofu to ensure the health of the digestion system. You can also check on Health Benefits of Mesclun Salad for Digestive and Metabolism
7. Promotes Weight Loss
As described before, stinky tofu is low in fat. This can help to promote weight loss. Moreover, it has fiber that can help to make you feel full longer. Then, it can control your appetite. Hence, are you interested to try stinky tofu? You can also check on Benefits of Tej Patta for Weight Loss
8. Reduces Cholesterol Level
The presence of fiber helps stinky tofu to reduce cholesterol level. As the consequence, fiber in stinky tofu can help to promote the heart’s health and reduce heart diseases such as stroke. Great, isn’t it? You can also check on Health Benefits of Octopus for Cholesterol
9. Helps Diabetes
The greater thing comes from stinky tofu is its ability to deal with diabetes. This is linked to a study in January 2010 issue of “Nutrition Research” shown that fermented soybean products might help prevent or at least delay the progression of type 2 diabetes, compared with consumption of nonfermented soybeans. Moreover, it is also shown that certain isoflavonoids and bioactive peptides, or specific plant compounds, form during fermentation and these might reduce insulin resistance and boost insulin secretion. As the consequence, stinky tofu can be healthy food for treating diabetes. Such great benefits, right?
10. Boosts Energy
It cannot be denied that the presence of fiber and protein in stinky tofu will help to boost energy. Protein has a role in building strong muscle while fiber can promote the digestion system as well as make you feel full longer. Thus, for those who need more energy to do daily activities, then stinky tofu can be the healthy food option for you.
Next, we also have the tips for consuming stinky tofu below.
Tips for Consuming
- You can eat stinky tofu by having it steamed, stewed, or, most commonly, deep-fried, and it is often accompanied by chili sauce or soy sauce.
- Stinky tofu can be found easily at the night market in China and Taiwan. People there usually eat the deep-fried stinky tofu with the local sweet-and-sour pickled cabbage, believed to relieve the greasiness. In this case, It is said that stinky tofu has a bad odor, but the more it smells, the better its flavor.
- Moreover, it is such a good idea to serve stinky tofu with spicy hot soup.
To summarize, stinky tofu may not give you a good impression based on how it smells. But, the nutrients in this food seems promising. With the presence of fiber, protein, and probiotics, it can be a healthy food option for you. Thus, stay healthy by eating great and nutritious food, there!