Are Western meats, sodas more fattening compared to subcontinent sodas, meat?

[Savak]

I have always observed something strange. In 2017 when i last came to Pakistan, i enjoyed all the delicacies like Bun Kebab, Chicken Tikkas, Seekh Kebabs, Doodh Patti chais, soft drinks but surprisingly my relatives felt i had lost weight on that trip. But if i were to binge on this unhealthy diet in Canada, i guarantee you i will look very bloated and inflated in a weeks time.

Like even today, the first thing i did upon landing in Khi was to go for breakfast with a friend at a Dhaba where i ordered 2 spicy ommlettes, one big paratha roti, 2 cups of doodh patti chai and one drink of sting. Later i had a pepsi with bun kebab at my favorite bun kebab spot and at night i enjoyed mutton chops, paalak with one naan for dinner with diet pepsi, doodh patti chai at night.

But i do not feel bloated or heavy at all. I used to enjoy these things living in Pakistan all my life. But i can guarantee you that if i have these things in Canada, i will put on weight and feel very bloaty with heart burn, digestive issues and will have a puffy face, love handles in no time in 1-2 days.

Even the local ice cream in Pakistan is not that heavy whereas if you have a Cone in Canada, you will look heavy later on.

So it leads me to my hypothesis that the food, soft drinks and milk in North America are definitely much more fattening compared to Pakistani foods, soft drinks and milk. What can the explanation be behind this?

 

[Pakistanian]

I concur.

 

[JaDed]

Yes the pesticides are less fattening than the fructose.

 

[pillionrider]

Must be because, in desi land when you buy 1 ltr of milk you get 750 ml actually and 250 ml of water to quench your thirst. 1 kg of sugar contains 50-100 g of non-sugary random crystals. Same with cream etc. So you're taking in less of those nasty things.

Dude, I think it's just psychological. No offence, but you might be happier while in Pakistan and feeling liberated. Maybe, sit around less, involving in energy-expending activities.

 

[Captain caveman]

I find.the soft drinks such as pepsi and 7 up to be alot sweeter i.e. contain more sugar or more sweetners.
The cigerettes are lethal, gold leaf is like smoking in volcanic ash! Its well documented that cigarette company make stronger cigarettes for the developing world to get them hooked.
Food generally, taste the same apart from the malavat.
The meat is more rubbery in Pakistan though!

 

[Ahmed4472]

Don’t know the chemistry but always turns out true in my case. I’m not a very fit or slim person but every time I come back from Pakistan, I find myself a few pounds less. Even though I eat way more in Pakistan and do much less physical activity. Within a month of coming back to US I gain all those pounds I lost at Tikka houses.

 

[Captain caveman]

Must be because, in desi land when you buy 1 ltr of milk you get 750 ml actually and 250 ml of water to quench your thirst. 1 kg of sugar contains 50-100 g of non-sugary random crystals. Same with cream etc. So you're taking in less of those nasty things.

Dude, I think it's just psychological. No offence, but you might be happier while in Pakistan and feeling liberated. Maybe, sit around less, involving in energy-expending activities.

A very logical answer.
Though in the US their food would be classified as super, giant portions, in the uk.

 

[Waq]

Stress raises cortisol levels and that has a really negative effect on gut health that subsequently can lead to bloating, gut health etc.

When you go aboard, often it’s for happy reasons and day to day stress naturally decreases and therefore improving gut health.

There is also more humidity in Karachi so you sweat more toxins, which will help with bloating although swelling of limbs can be a pain if not used to the heat (fat fingers!).

I’m not aware of desi sugars and meats being less heavy and I’m sure they contain as much antibiotics and pesticides as North American food has.

Anyway - enjoy and eat until your heart is content

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Stress raises cortisol levels and that has a really negative effect on gut health that subsequently can lead to bloating, gut health etc.

When you go aboard, often it’s for happy reasons and day to day stress naturally decreases and therefore improving gut health.

There is also more humidity in Karachi so you sweat more toxins, which will help with bloating although swelling of limbs can be a pain if not used to the heat (fat fingers!).

I’m not aware of desi sugars and meats being less heavy and I’m sure they contain as much antibiotics and pesticides as North American food has.

Anyway - enjoy and eat until your heart is content

Welcome back Sir Alex. Long time no see!

 

[Captain caveman]

Stress raises cortisol levels and that has a really negative effect on gut health that subsequently can lead to bloating, gut health etc.

When you go aboard, often it’s for happy reasons and day to day stress naturally decreases and therefore improving gut health.

There is also more humidity in Karachi so you sweat more toxins, which will help with bloating although swelling of limbs can be a pain if not used to the heat (fat fingers!).

I’m not aware of desi sugars and meats being less heavy and I’m sure they contain as much antibiotics and pesticides as North American food has.

Anyway - enjoy and eat until your heart is content

"Anyway - enjoy and eat until your heart is content"

Or you get heart disease.

Stress raising cortisol levels is an excellent point.

 

[DeadBall]

The chickens in the supermarket variety here in Germany are definitely fed a hormone based diet and then injected with water and other chemicals after slaughtering them so that they can stay on the shelves for a longer period. They are huge compared to the chicken I buy from the Turkish butchers or local farms which in turn are still huge compared to chicken I used to buy in Pakistan.

Another thing is that most of the chicken consumed is usually slaughtered a few minutes or half an hour/ an hour at the most before being prepared and is very fresh.

In Romania we have a home on the country side/city border area and buy from the local market where fresh fruit, vegetables and meat is available and it is definitely better in taste and after effects than the produce I buy in major western European cities.

 

[in_cutter]

Could also be that the hot & humid weather obviously makes you sweat excessively & with that you burn extra calories..?

 

[ahmedzee]

I did some research on this topic and spoke to a few Naturopaths as well on this exact issue few years ago. Here is the conclusion:

1) Western meats (mostly chicken), especially in North America, UK, is injected with growth hormones, and it eventually leads to kids looking older than they are if consumed much and also leads to weight gain in adults. Try free range chicken instead and beef/mutton/sheep to avoid his issue.

2) The bread/wheat is extensively FORTIFIED. This is the #1 reason for weight gain in North America. Basically, a bagel has enough energy these days and is equivalent to 4 bagels in the 1970s. The wheat is fortified. One roti in Canada for its equivalent size and mass has 4 times more energy than 1 roti in Pakistan. Unfortunately the govts introduced fortification in the 70s/80s to combat malnourishing, and now we are obese/overweight.

All in all, in Pakistan, eastern europe and asia the wheat and meat is healthier and thus you get the nourishment from it without the excessive weight gain/hormone.

 

[Waq]

I did some research on this topic and spoke to a few Naturopaths as well on this exact issue few years ago. Here is the conclusion:

1) Western meats (mostly chicken), especially in North America, UK, is injected with growth hormones, and it eventually leads to kids looking older than they are if consumed much and also leads to weight gain in adults. Try free range chicken instead and beef/mutton/sheep to avoid his issue.

2) The bread/wheat is extensively FORTIFIED. This is the #1 reason for weight gain in North America. Basically, a bagel has enough energy these days and is equivalent to 4 bagels in the 1970s. The wheat is fortified. One roti in Canada for its equivalent size and mass has 4 times more energy than 1 roti in Pakistan. Unfortunately the govts introduced fortification in the 70s/80s to combat malnourishing, and now we are obese/overweight.

All in all, in Pakistan, eastern europe and asia the wheat and meat is healthier and thus you get the nourishment from it without the excessive weight gain/hormone.

Rubbish, I only eat organic meat, fruit, vegetables and drink at home and I’m still fat!

 

[Waq]

Welcome back Sir Alex. Long time no see!

Thank you, I still lurk when there is a major incident globally!

 

[Pakistanian]

I did some research on this topic and spoke to a few Naturopaths as well on this exact issue few years ago. Here is the conclusion:

1) Western meats (mostly chicken), especially in North America, UK, is injected with growth hormones, and it eventually leads to kids looking older than they are if consumed much and also leads to weight gain in adults. Try free range chicken instead and beef/mutton/sheep to avoid his issue.

2) The bread/wheat is extensively FORTIFIED. This is the #1 reason for weight gain in North America. Basically, a bagel has enough energy these days and is equivalent to 4 bagels in the 1970s. The wheat is fortified. One roti in Canada for its equivalent size and mass has 4 times more energy than 1 roti in Pakistan. Unfortunately the govts introduced fortification in the 70s/80s to combat malnourishing, and now we are obese/overweight.

All in all, in Pakistan, eastern europe and asia the wheat and meat is healthier and thus you get the nourishment from it without the excessive weight gain/hormone.

Lol I think Pakistan should fortify their wheat cause a lot of people in Pakistan look extremely malnourished.

 

[DeadBall]

Rubbish, I only eat organic meat, fruit, vegetables and drink at home and I’m still fat!

Could also do with genetics maybe in some cases

Not saying that you haven't got the best genes btw

 

[IAJ]

The chickens in the supermarket variety here in Germany are definitely fed a hormone based diet and then injected with water and other chemicals after slaughtering them so that they can stay on the shelves for a longer period. They are huge compared to the chicken I buy from the Turkish butchers or local farms which in turn are still huge compared to chicken I used to buy in Pakistan.

Another thing is that most of the chicken consumed is usually slaughtered a few minutes or half an hour/ an hour at the most before being prepared and is very fresh.

In Romania we have a home on the country side/city border area and buy from the local market where fresh fruit, vegetables and meat is available and it is definitely better in taste and after effects than the produce I buy in major western European cities.

Off topic, the chickens in Deutschland, are they stunned before slaughtering?

 

[ReverseHit]

Probably also has to do with:

1. Portion sizes - portions are still tiny in the sub-continent compares to North America
2. Weather - cold weather = slower metabolism, so your body tends to keep most of the energy you consume

 

[Tubs]

Meat and dairy are pretty bad for you fullstop, but I can see why they would be worse in the West. The farming practices of pumping livestock up with hormones, for one, are going to make the meat that much worse for you.