Every time I eat Chinese food, I am hungry again a few hours later. Why is that?

Question

I love Chinese food! But I hate how I am always hungry again just a short time later. Does anyone know why that is?

Answer 1

Depending upon the dish, you have more vegetables and less meat in a Chinese meal than a steak and potato meal.

More veggies + less meat = more fiber = quicker digestion.

Remember, the stomach's job is to breakdown proteins. With the Chinese food (less meat), the stomach will do it's job quicker and give you the hungry "empty" stomach sooner.

Answer 2

Generally, a meal of Chinese food is very high-carb. The proportion of rice to meat/fish is different than, let's say, having a mashed potatoes and turkey meal. Then, add to this the various ingredients used in Chinese cooking such as sugar, cornstarch and other vegetables high in carbs and you get the effects of a high-carb meal.

The carbs cause a spike in your blood sugar and sometimes can cause something similar to a "sugar high." The thing is, when your body gets over that high, depending on how much you've eaten, the low that follows can cause your blood sugar to dip to less than normal, causing you to feel hunger.

A good way to counter balance that occurence is to eat more of the protein portion of the meal (meats, fish, seafood) in proportion to the rice.

But since a Chinese food meal is really meant to be consumed with tons of carbs versus the proteins (Yummy with the fried rice AND the chow mein!!), what's a girl to do???

I'd say, enjoy it for what it is. Now that you understand that it is a matter of biology and nutritional science, just accept that it will happen and take a snack when you're hungry again!

On the upside, it encourages you to eat more often. It is behind the concept of raising your metabolism (take a small meal or snack every 3 - 4 hours) and keeping slim.

How many Chinese do you see that are overweight? :)

Answer 3

It's because there is generally a very high amount of sugar and empty white carbohydrates that quickly turn into sugar in Americanized chinese food. This gets processed very quickly and then leaves you feeling hungry. Better to stick with dishes high in protein and low in sauce to avoid feeling like this. The same will happen with fast food, etc.

Answer 4

Depends on what you eat. Some dishes are more sustaining than others. I personally, favor chinese food over all the rest. I don't really get hungry soon after. If you eat a lot of meat dishes then it shouldn't happen. But vegetarian dishes even chow mein could do that .

Answer 5

This is due to the high level of simple carbs in what they call chinese food here in North America. Chinese food here is not real chinese food. It was actually invented in San Francisco.

Answer 6

Because a lot of Chinese take-out and stuff has a high GI content (lots of sodium, lots of refined carbs). This means your energy sort of "crashes" later.

Not the best food for you, so I stick to fried Veggie Rice, Veggie Potstickers, and some veggies and tofu. Yum!

Answer 7

Probably due to the low amount of saturated fat in whatever your eating. It is a good thing, however you could think of it this way...they give you enough for almost three meals, so you get to eat again with no guilt!

Answer 8

its a high gi food, which means your bod burns the energy fast

Answer 9

It does not fill you up, it low in fat, has some protein, but it does not stick with you long.

Answer 10

Because chinese food is made of plastic. You didn't know that? turn over your sesame chicken and you'll find "Made in China" label. Your body does not want plastic to be digested and require more food afterward.