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1 RICE TO NEVER EAT & 5 RICES THAT FIGHT BELLYFLAB
by Isabel De Los Rios, The Diet Solution Program
While carbohydrates typically get a bad rap when burning flab, luckily not all
carbs are the same, and we do not need to be pointing the nasty blame finger on all of them equally.
When I break the bad news to people that many carbs they think are healthy are actually major weight loss No-No's, they automatically think I'm suggesting they go ride the Low Carb Train...
...but that's not what I'm saying at all!
The good news for all of us is that there are plenty of other healthy
carbohydrate and grain options that fit into your fat-burning meal plans
perfectly.
WHITE RICE VS. BROWN RICE & EVERY OTHER RICE ON THE SHELF
If you've ever even spent 2 minutes in the rice aisle at your local grocery
store, you know the varieties and the choices of rice are endless.
Are any of these a good option for you on your meal plan?
Yes, yes, and yes.
Brown Rice goes on the top of the "good" list (oh come on, you knew I was going to say that right?)
Many people know brown rice is better than white, but why?
Well, although brown rice and white rice have similar amounts of calories,
carbohydrates, and protein. The main difference between the two forms of rice is in the processing and nutritional content.
Only the outermost layer of a grain of rice (the husk) is removed in producing
brown rice. To produce white rice, the next layers underneath the husk (the bran layer and the germ) are removed, leaving mostly the starchy endosperm.
Several vitamins and dietary minerals are lost when you remove this very
important layer (especially Vit B1, Vit B3 and iron). Not to mention magnesium,
where one cup of cooked brown rice contains 84mg of magnesium and one cup of white rice only contains 19 mg.
Another very important source of flab melting nutrition that is lost in white
rice is fiber! This is so vital because fiber plays so many important roles in
the fat-burning process.
Fiber helps you to feel full for a longer period of time and if you are not
hungry and feel satisfied, it's much easier to stick to your healthy eating than
if you are starving all day.
Fiber also helps to control blood sugar fluctuations, and one of the big secrets
to fatloss is keeping your blood sugar and your insulin under control all day
long.
Fiber helps your digestion. If you are not eliminating and moving your bowels
each day, weight loss will be extremely difficult. I would even say for some
people, impossible.
Speaking of keeping your blood sugar in balance...
...we should also consider the glycemic index (how a particular food affects
your blood sugar) when considering our rice options.
An easy test you can do right in your kitchen to test the glycemic index of a
particular variety of rice is the "stickiness" test. After you've cooked the
rice, the easier it is to mush up into a ball (mushy), the higher the glycemic
index and the faster it will cause your blood sugar to rise.
This is why long grain brown rice is actually better than short grain brown
rice...
...it will cause a slower rice in your blood sugar and in insulin levels.How
about every other rice option out there?
Here are just a few delicious options for you to try...
Basmati Rice
Used in a wide range of Indian and Middle Eastern dishes, basmati rice comes in white and brown varieties. I suggest choosing the brown as the glycemic index of brown basmati rice is even lower than regular long grain brown rice.
Black Rice
Cultivated in Asia, this rice is typically sold as an unmilled rice, meaning the
fiber-rich black husks of the rice are not removed, making black rice very high
in fiber. It's also naturally high in iron...a plus for those looking for iron-rich foods.
Jasmine
Jasmine rice is frequently served with Thai and Chinese dishes. It is often
compared to Basmati Rice and sometimes used in cooking interchangeably. Like basmati rice, it also comes in brown and white varieties. You probably already know what I'm going to say here (but I'll say it anyway), choose the brown rice variety.
Wild Rice
Similar to brown rice, wild rice is less processed than white rice and as a
result, obtains more nutrients, specifically protein, vitamin B1 and magnesium.
Not quite as much of a winner as brown rice, but not the same as white rice,
wild rice falls somewhere in between.
Which rice options should you avoid almost always?
White rice, instant rice (especially the ones that go in the microwave), rice
bowls (highly processed) and any other rice product that has added creams,
sauces or tons of sodium.
Now, with all of this talk about glycemic index and sugar balance, you must
remember the most important thing:
The glycemic index of a food changes drastically when combined with other foods. So regardless of your rice choice, it is best that you combine your rice (a carb) with a healthy protein and fat.
So, where do any of the healthy rice options fit into your daily meals?
Usually a ½ cup to a cup of brown rice can be a wonderful carbohydrate choice in your lunch or dinner alongside a tasty protein (maybe some fish) and some yummy vegetables.
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