Rice is the basic foodstuff of more than half of the world’s population for a good number of reasons: its exceptional dietary value, the fact that it is easy to grow, tasty, easy to cook and can be put to a wide variety of uses. This article, however, will not deal with rice recipes but with the use of rice for our healthy well-being. Rice is the staple source of nutriment in Asia but has recently been re-discovered in the West, not just when making the occasional rice salad or (the more typical for us, Maltese) Ross il-Forn, but for its more important properties.
Apart from eating rice in its natural form, rice can been found in many products which we don't necessarily associate with the usual plate of rice.
Drinks made from rice are 100% non-dairy, with no lactose or cholesterol. As a result, they are ideal for people who are allergic to cows’ milk or who have lactose intolerance. They are also the natural choice for those seeking to live a healthier life since they are low in fat and with no added sugar - however, beware that not all the rice drinks available on the market contain no added sugar! These drinks are high in carbohydrates but low in protein. The calorie intake of rice drinks, as compared to milk, is lower. Please note that rice drinks are not suitable for young babies who require mother’s milk. Also, since rice drinks are very low in calcium, one should opt for a rice drink which is enriched with calcium and not base his diet on a natural rice drink.
Lima and NaturGreen organic rice drinks are available in a variety of formats and different flavours, namely natural, with added calcium, chocolate, vanilla and nuts. These drinks can be served plain, hot or cold, for breakfast or in the afternoon, or as an energy drink during a sports activity. They can also be used in multiple culinary preparations: soups, sauces and pies. They are perfect for preparing numerous desserts and can be eaten with cereal at breakfast time.
Rice drinks are a suitable alternative to soya drinks. This is very important, since a good number of people who cannot tolerate dairy milk are also intolerant to soya. Let me remind you again that rice drinks with added calcium should be the preferred alternative.
Organic rice cakes are a very healthy snack for any time of the day. These are low in calories and highly nutritious, thanks to whole grains such as buckwheat, corn, quinoa, and millet which are added to enhance the taste. These cakes are thus rich in mineral salts and slow sugar. Rice cakes can be eaten as they are or with any topping, just like a slice of bread. They are particularly useful as a snack in a low-calorie diet or if you are feeling slightly hungry. Rice cakes are naturally gluten and dairy free, although chocolate covered rice cakes might contain gluten and lactose and some rice cakes with added grains can contain gluten as well.
For a healthy breakfast one can indulge in rice puffs (or corn puffs if preferred). One should be aware, however, that most commercial rice cereals contain a lot of sugar. Thus, ideally, one should buy organic rice puffs (Kallo or Bigoz) and then add seeds, fruits and nuts according to taste. To top it up one may add a flavoured rice drink. This will give you the necessary energy to start the day. For anytime of the day, a rice based dessert is also a good non-dairy and cholesterol-free alternative to high fat ice-creams or creams. Rice chocolate and rice vanilla are readily available on the market.
Further reading:
http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bnutrition/0,,3vrt,00.html
http://www.limafood.com/Lima/EN/question-reponse.html#rice_maltodextrin
No comments:
Post a Comment