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Healthy Microwavable Brown Rice?

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:02:11 +0000

By now we know that we should be choosing brown rice over white rice. But, is it important to slow cook brown rice for 50 minutes? Or, can we save time and buy microwavable brown rice and still get the same health benefits ? Almost Identical to Slow Cook Brown Rice The short is answer is yes, buying microwavable brown rice gets you similar (if not identical) nutrients to slow cook brown rice. There may be some extra health benefits from choosing parboiled brown rice (form that is found in microwavable rice). May increase the B vitamin content in the brown rice due to increased soaking of the grain. Improves the grain’s ability to act as a resistant starch . These resistant starches may help to improve satiety, decrease insulin response, improve fat metabolism, and improve digestive health. How Important is it to Eat Brown Rice? Brown rice still has the bran and germ intact making the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals still intact. White rice removes everything except the endosperm (starch) leaving it devoid of nutrients. Additionally, the white rice creates a greater insulin response , meaning diabetics and those sensitive to changing insulin levels should limit their white rice consumption. All brown rice contains 88% of your daily value for manganese (per 1 cup). Manganese helps to form superoxide dismutase—a scientific name for a potent antioxidant “helper”. So, brown rice can help us ward off free radicals! Brands to Buy Uncle Ben’s Microwavable Ready Rice Annie Chun’s Sprouted Brown Sticky Rice Minsley Cooked Organic Brown Rice Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice Minute Ready to Serve Brown Rice Cups Hinode 90 Second Brown Rice You could always make the slow cook ahead of time, and keep it in the refrigerator for a few days. When you are ready to eat it, just microwave! Have you tried the microwavable brown rice?

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Healthy Microwavable Brown Rice?

Don’t Be Tricked by Whole and Multigrain Foods

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:00:16 +0000

Whole grains have become popular for the health conscious, but make sure you know how to select your whole grains correctly. “20 grams of whole grains, 35% of your daily value of fiber , oat bran, nine grain, low fat blueberry”, don’t these terms sound healthy ? Unfortunately, you can’t believe everything you read…… Read Your Label Look for the first ingredient to say whole wheat, whole oat, or whole brown rice flour. This ensures that most of the product is made from true whole grains. Check the total amount of carbohydrates. Anything more than 30 grams of carbohydrates equals more than 2 grain servings. Check the grams of sugar. Anything more than 5 or 6 grams of sugar is starting to get high. Look for more than 2 grams of fiber. Scan the label for trans fat which is listed as “partially hydrogenated oils”. If you spot trans fat, don’t buy the product. Stay Away from These Fooling Grains Starbuck’s Apple Bran Muffin : 350 calories, 9 g fat, 520 mg sodium, 64 g carbohydrate, 7g fiber, 34 g sugar Dunkin’ Donuts Reduced Fat Blueberry Muffin : 410 calories, 10 g fat, 620 mg sodium, 75 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 40 g sugar Publix Apple Bran Muffin (similar to grocery store bakery muffins): 290 calories, 16 g fat, 36 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 23 g sugar Kellogg’s Low Fat Granola Original (without Raisins) Multi-Grain cerea l: 190 calories, 3 g fat, 40 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 14 g sugar Nature Valley Strawberry Yogurt Bars : 140 calories, 4 g fat, 26 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 14 g sugar ZonePerfect Blueberry Pomegranate Protein Bar : 210 calories, 6 g fat, 230 mg sodium, 24 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 16 g sugar Keebler Multigrain Club Crackers : ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), VEGETABLE OIL (COTTONSEED AND PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL WITH TBHQ FOR FRESHNESS), SUGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR , TOASTED DEFATTED WHEAT GERM, WHOLE WHEAT , CONTAINS TWO PERCENT OR LESS OF OAT BRAN , SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CORN SYRUP, DEGERMINATED YELLOW CORN FLOUR, SODIUM SULFITE, SOY LECITHIN. These are just a few examples. What you will notice is that the sugars are most commonly high. The next most common problem is that there are just not enough high quality whole grains without having to add all of the extra processed ingredients. Solution to the Problem Who says you have to buy these foods? Try making a fruit oatmeal from home, or make your own muffins or bars with whole wheat flour or almond meal. A trick is to use some stevia in your baking to reduce the sugar content. Seek out new healthy ingredients, eat most foods from home, and practice moderation in your choices. Have you been fooled by whole or multigrain foods?

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Don’t Be Tricked by Whole and Multigrain Foods

Zero Carb Aged Parmesan Crisps

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:02:55 +0000

Traditional chip companies have been losing some market share because of the popularity of low carb eating. Companies like Kitchen Table Bakers have been trying to fill the low carb snacking void by snatching those former chip eaters and those wanting gluten-free snacks. I was recently sent three varieties of their Parmesan Crisps to sample. Here’s what I thought of these zero carb snacks. I’m a Huge Fan of Parmesan I love parmesan cheese, in fact, it’s one of my favorite cheeses. And, guess what? These crisps are just parmesan cheese and nothing else! No Gluten, no sugar, no preservatives, nothing but cheese . Now they do have flavored ones, eight, in all. Even then, they are just parmesan cheese and the herb or spice used. For instance, The Basil Pesto variety is just parm, basil, and garlic. The flavors available are: Aged Parmesan Sesame Rosmary Flax Seed Garlic Basil Pesto Jalapeno Everything Nutrition Because these are just cheese, the total fat content and saturated fat are a little high with 63% of their calories coming from fat. However, 3 crisps will deliver 7 grams of protein and 20% of your daily calcium . The sodium is from the salt in the cheese and is moderate. The serving size is rather small and there are around 18 crisps per pack. I could see some people having trouble stopping at just 3 crisps, since they are so tasty. This would deliver 480 calories and 36 grams of fat , so eater beware! Should You Try Them? Overall, I would recommend these snacks. Since they are all-natural, I felt good about eating them and they certainly are enjoyable to eat. I just think some will have trouble only eating the recommended serving size. Also, If you aren’t a fan of parmesan cheese, then Parmesan Crisps wouldn’t be for you. Kitchen Table Bakers’ products can be found online or at WholeFoods stores nationwide as well as other select natural food type stores around the USA.

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Zero Carb Aged Parmesan Crisps

Link Time! The New Atkins Diet and More

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:03:01 +0000

Looking to find or share fitness-related articles with a like-minded community? Check out FitMarker. It’s a great resource for those looking to read more about health and exercise. I absolutely adore my personal trainer, who’s both tough, but kind and knowledgeable, too. However, it pays to shop around before committing. Here’s why: Six scary truths about personal trainers from the Daily Spark. Continue reading…

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Link Time! The New Atkins Diet and More

Link Time! Healthy Summer Road Trips and More

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Berry picking is one of my favorite summer activities, and according to FitSugar you can burn 600 calories an hour doing it . Packing up for a summer road trip? Skip the drive-thru and vacation weight gain by following the Daily Spark’s four tips for a healthier road trip. Veggie burgers are a staple at summer BBQs, especially if you’ve got vegetarians on the guest list . But are they good for you? The “healthy foodie” at That’s Fit Canada says no. Continue reading…

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Link Time! Healthy Summer Road Trips and More

Psychology of Weight Loss – The 6 steps to Lasting Weight Loss [Forum]

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 23:26:37 +0000

I have been through 5 years of diets, weight and food obsesssion which have led me to low self esteem, insecurity in the romatic area and Body Dysmorphic disorder. I have tried everything in order to loose weight: from cabbage soup to apple vinegar pills and from meal relacements to eating nothing. I always went back on binge eating after a diet. The only thing that worked for me were these 6 steps: 1. discover the events and the beliefs created by the events which caused your weight gain; 2. understand that those past events may have nothing to do neither with you, nor with your worth, hence your disempowering beliefs may not be true; 3. know yourself; 4. create optimistic future expectations; 5. eliminate all your disempowering beliefs and your weight gain feeders. Empowering beliefs will follow naturally; 6. make a realistic, but inspiring plan of life goals which will keep you passionate about your daily life – build Weight Loss Feeders. I have lost 9 pounds and I have maintained my weight for the past 3 years. I have got back my a healthy self esteem. I know how hard it is to go on a diet. I remember vividly how helpless I was feeling. My plan is a non-diet weight loss programme, which focuses on your mind, not on food. I would be pleased to provide you with my free e-book: ‘Changing your beliefs – The 6 steps to Lasting Weight Loss’, where you can find out detailed steps on overcoming the weight-gain mindset. This is my e-mail address: rebella86@hotmail.co.uk. Just let me know!

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Psychology of Weight Loss – The 6 steps to Lasting Weight Loss [Forum]

10 Reasons to Quit Soda for Good

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:02:21 +0000

I gave up soda at the start of my first pregnancy seven years ago, a habit that — unlike sweets — was easy to kick. Aside from the occasional urge for a sip, I’m happy with plain water 99 percent of the time. But, I know how hard it is to give up a habit, especially when there’s sugar involved (see above!) However, like sugary snacks, soda adds an excess of empty calories to your daily intake, an excess that can actually harm your health. Continue reading…

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10 Reasons to Quit Soda for Good

Can Chocolate Cut Heart Attack Risk?

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:00:10 +0000

It’s the sort of news we all love – especially at Easter. Newspapers claim that chocolate has been shown to cut the risk of heart attacks. But is it true? With the Daily Telegraph newspaper reporting (a little over-eagerly) that ” a chocolate bar a day can cut the risk of heart disease and stroke “, many dieters may have found an easy excuse to dig into an Easter Egg. Continue reading…

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Can Chocolate Cut Heart Attack Risk?

Link Time! Urban Workouts, Dealing with Sweat, and More

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:00:03 +0000

City dwellers — getting tired of hitting the gym or taking a run through the park? Get creative and enjoy your “natural” surroundings with urban workouts from Mark’s Daily Apple. Workouts mean sweat, but sweat isn’t always socially acceptable. If you’re squeezing in a workout during lunch, Starling Fitness has some tips for not driving your friends and co-workers away. Remember the study that said sitting down too much can kill you? If you need a little help giving up your Internet time, FitSugar has some tips to help you step away from the computer, and outside for a walk. Want to start living a healthier life today, but you’re not sure how to start? Miz Fit has six small changes toward a healthier lifestyle. Yoga in the Olympics ? It could happen…. Did you know you can increase muscle mass just by getting a good night’s sleep? That’s Fit has four more ways to build growth hormone (and muscles) naturally . Still storing your vitamins or supplements in the bathroom medicine cabinet? Time to find a new place to keep them — just make sure it’s not in the kitchen . Have you seen a great blog post or piece of fitness advice on the Web? Leave it in comments section, so that we can check it out too…

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Link Time! Urban Workouts, Dealing with Sweat, and More

[Forum] Weight Loss: Starting Again

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:47:57 +0000

So the other day it was almost 50 degrees out. I’ve been hiding in my sweatshirts and sweaters all winter like I always do, but I don’t want spring to blindside me this time. I don’t want to have to go shopping for all new clothes that I feel comfortable in because I’ve let myself gain weight again. I have tried to start a healthy lifestyle over and over and over again. In the past it has never been so important though. For some reason in college I could drink every day and live off of handy snacks, dunkin donuts, pasta, and lean pockets and only gain 5 pounds here and there. Those 5 pounds were easy to lose too. Now it feels like they are nearly impossible to shed. Maybe if I blog my daily meals, snacks, exercise, etc. then I will feel more obligated to stick to my guns. I like instant results and have little patience when it comes to weight loss, but I know that it is a slow process and I need to get motivated. So, here it goes.

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[Forum] Weight Loss: Starting Again