Health Conscious People Can Enjoy Japanese Desserts Using Specific Ingredients
In Japan, wide range of deserts ranging from traditional Japanese sweets to Western delicacies are sold. Delicious cakes, tea cookies and beautiful gift boxes all wrapped uniquely to perfection. Health conscious people find it very hard to ignore the temptation because desserts contain sugar.
Fortunately, Japanese snack market has treats made from ingredients that are low in fat and calories as well as they enhance digestion.
Common ingredients used in desserts are healthy
Kanten or Agar
Kanton is a calorie free seaweed, clear in color as well as high in fiber, calcium and iron. It is used as hardening agent in making jellos. When Japanese women wish to shed fat they love eating this to satisfy their sweet tooth.
It is filling tasty and calorie free. Agar is used in fruit jellos or in yokan, a traditional Japanese sweet, which also a jello is made from red bean paste.
Kuzu
It is a thickening agent high in fiber. Its health benefits include –
- Reduces high blood pressure
- Relieves from migraine
- Regulates blood sugar
- Helps to ease from muscle cramps
- Good for digestion
Most common dessert that uses Kuzu is Kuzukiri. It looks like long noodles dipped in cold sweet soup. This filling dessert is available in Japanese style cafes and majority of convenience stores. It gives pudding a good thick texture.
Black sesame
Black sesame is regarded as superfood. It warms the body, which is crucial for healthy blood flow. Black sesame is high in vitamin B, magnesium, iron and fiber. Black sesame ice-cream is available in parlor. The taste is nutty and counterbalances ice-cream sweetness.
Ice-cream is cool but black sesame gives it some warm properties. They even give Japanese pudding a great texture.
Azuki beans
These red beans really fill you and are Japanese favorites. Azuki is high in fiber and low in calories. Moreover, as they are high in protein sugar absorption slows down, so blood sugar does not spike up. Traditional desserts like Daifuku include fillings of red bean paste. You even get options like Tsubuan or Koshian. Green colored Yomogi Daifuku is a very healthy option. You can even try western cake with red bean fillings. Even red bean jams are sold.
Soybeans
Soybean is a great ingredient that replaces dairy products. It is an amazing protein and fiber source. It is low in cholesterol. Japanese soybeans are good nutrition sources as it is less processed. If you plan to use dairy replacement then plenty of tofu-based dessert options will be found in Japan.
Tofu pudding and custard pudding taste alike but the former is a much healthier choice. You can even enjoy soy cheesecakes in Japan.
Kinako
Kinako powder is made from soybeans. It is light brown in color. It has same health benefits like soybean including protein, fiber, calcium and isoflavones. It has nutty flavor and is sprinkled on Japanese desserts/. For extra nutrition blend it with Kuzumochi or Kanten. It is used as topping on yogurt, kakigori [shaved ice] and even toast.
Health conscious people can fulfil their cravings for desserts without scarifying their goal. Look for desserts with ingredients mentioned above, the next time you visit department store in Japan.
