“The single greatest change that we have wrought in the last 50 years is turning the slow-digesting food that nature produces into rapidly digesting carbohydrate foods that produce spikes in blood sugar” Dr. Andrew Weil
Most of my clients are feeling like they need to stay away from carbs to stay healthy and thin. This isn’t the case, as current research shows that organic wholegrain foods protect against cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, etc. Making wise carb choices is where you benefit. Instead of cutting carbs out entirely, eleminate simple carbs and choose complex carbs like whole grains.
I’m going to introduce you to one of my favorite wholegrain foods, sprouted brown rice. It has a more tender texture and a slightly sweet nutty flavor than regular brown rice and the nutrients are far more bioavailable.
Sprouted Brown Rice is a staple in my diet, because it’s helpful in the prevention of various cancers such as colon cancer, breast cancer and leukemia. This beneficial effect can be attributed to the presence of potent antioxidants and high fiber content in the brown rice. The fiber content present in brown rice has the ability to bind itself to the harmful cancer causing toxins in the body. This prevents the toxins from attaching to the walls of the colon and helps eliminate them from the body.
Studies indicate that sprouting rice by soaking it in warm water can increase fiber by as much as 4x, B vitamins and magnesium by as much as 3x and gamma-aminobutyric acid (or GABA – an amino acid and neurotransmitter known to hava a calming effect on the nerves.) by as much as 10x, as well as produce an enzyme called protylendopetidase – an inhibitor implicated in fighting Alzheimer’s disease.
Directions:
Place brown rice in a bowl and cover with water, exactly twice as much water as rice.
Let rice soak overnight (8 to 12 hours) at room temperature. The outer bran layer will soften and the rice will start absorbing the water. Sprouts will appear (tiny buds less than 1/16 of an inch tall). To leave the active enzymes in tact, cook at the lowest temperature as possible.
The rice may develop a strange odor because sprouting invites good bacteria into the rice. You can eliminate the odor by soaking the rice in room temperature green tea which will stunt the growth of the friendly bacteria.
If you want more energy, better digestion, improved metabolism, sound sleep, optimal brain function and feeling more grounded, I advocate including complex carbs into your diet. Get sproutin’, go to Thrive Market and order your bag of organic brown rice today!
