Having fun with ambuyat
By Tika Rahman

Dining out for local food doesn't have to be a no-no for those on diet. They could try out ambuyat, with ambuyat-joints springing up here and there. It's a fun meal that's made to be enjoyed with a group. Easily digestible with high fibre content and filling for it's high water content, it would make for the perfect meal. But considerably low in nutrition, it should be taken with other side dishes.

Just watch out for what you have to take the meal with. Opt for a platter of crispy "ulam-ulaman", boiled or baked fish and a low sugar drink. Most importantly don't add salt to your dishes and request the chef to do the same.

Another factor that we should take note of when it comes to local cuisine is that it comes with a lot of MSG - monosodium glutamate or otherwise known as processed free glutamic acid.

MSG is made up of D-glumatic acid, pyroglumatic acid and various other contaminants in addition to L-glumatic acid. Although there are only few published reports, we cannot deny that there are adverse reactions associated with MSG. Studies have shown that at least one in four persons react to MSG.

MSG-reactions range from mild and transitory to debilitating and/or life threatening, including skin rash, simple headache, nausea/vomiting, asthma-like symptoms, migraine headache, tachycardia, panic attack, shock, seizure, depression, and more!

The dangers related to exposure to MSG have long been an issue. For more information you can wait for the Weekend Borneo Bulletin to read about the dangers of MSG.

"Dieters Dine Out" Tip of the Week:

Eat slowly. It takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to send a "full" signal to your brain.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin