The Key to Enjoying Carbs Without Sacrifice? High-Quality Rice
Looking for a healthy way to enjoy carbs without sacrificing your diet goals? Japanese rice might be the perfect solution for you! Rice is a great source of healthy carbohydrates, providing a flavorful, low-calorie, and low-fat option to your meals. It's also gluten-free, making it an ideal option for people with allergies or sensitivities to other popular carbs, such as wheat. In this blog post, we'll discuss why you need carbohydrates in your diet, the benefits of Japanese rice, and how it compares to our other favorite carb, wheat.
The Many Health Benefits of Carbohydrates
Rice, bread, pasta—these are some of our favorite dishes at the dinner table, yet anyone watching their weight tends to steer clear of these at all costs. Contrary to popular belief, these delicious foods are vital sources of one of our body's main sources of energy: carbohydrates!
Foods such as pasta, rice, potatoes, and bread slowly release carbohydrates into our bodies, replenishing our energy supply and providing endurance during workouts. In fact, most fitness experts recommend eating a healthy serving of carbs 2 hours prior to a workout for sustained energy.
So what's up with the "low-carb" trend?
For the most part, the low-carb diet was devised as a weight loss solution via calorie deficit or reducing your daily caloric intake. However, this often leads to unhealthy dieting and can even result in drastic weight gain once the diet is broken. This is because our body needs these easily digestible carbs for proper brain and bodily function. If we restrict ourselves too much, we may end up with cravings that end in junk food binges.
Quality and balance are key
When finding a healthy relationship with carbs, we must pay attention to the quality of our food and the quantity we consume. Fresh, local, and organic pasta and sourdough are going to have a much different effect on your body than their processed counterparts. To get the most out of your carbohydrates, they should be a part of a balanced meal. This means eating them alongside an assortment of fresh vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats. So go ahead and eat your rice and pasta—just make sure a diversity of food groups accompanies them.
At the Rice Factory, one of our favorite ways of enjoying carbohydrates is to prepare Ichiju Sansai, using one of our high-quality Japanese rice varieties and pairing it with a small serving of soup, pickled vegetables, and local meat or produce from the market.
Rice vs. Wheat: The health benefits of this ancient gluten-free grain
Both rice and wheat have been enjoyed by civilizations around the world for millennia. However, recent spikes in dietary sensitivities and our shift toward a more sedentary lifestyle are creating a need for a carbohydrate that is low-calorie, low-fat, and gluten-free. Luckily, rice offers all that and more!
Low in calories, rich in nutrients
Rice is a low-calorie grain that provides important nutrients like thiamin, niacin, and vitamin B6. It's also a great source of fiber, which can help you feel full after eating smaller portions.
Ideal for sensitive tummies
Since rice is gluten-free, anyone with sensitivities or allergies can still enjoy this ancient grain! Furthermore, compared to wheat, rice has a low glycemic index. This makes it easier on the digestive system, allowing you to enjoy carbs without the uncomfortable side effects of bloating and gas.
Less processed than wheat
When it comes to nutrition, one of the key differences between rice and wheat is that rice is much less processed. Most wheat products are stripped of fiber and nutritious outer layers before reaching our plates. Conversely, rice still retains its natural starch content, providing more nutrients than refined grains.
At the rice factory NEW YORK, we always freshly mill our rice, giving you the option to retain as much or as little of the germ as you want. This also means less oxidation from sitting on grocery shelves for months and, most importantly, much more flavor!
Rice is the perfect choice for anyone who wants a healthier, more nutritious alternative to wheat.
If you are considering making the switch to rice, you will find that there are hundreds of different rice varieties out there. Among them, Japanese rice has the highest water content, giving it a moist texture and unique sweetness. As rice experts with years in the industry, we highly recommend incorporating Japanese rice into your gluten-free meals. Due to the freshness and quality of our rice, you can freeze it after cooking and reheat it in the microwave—you'll be surprised at how fresh it tastes!
At the rice factory NEW YORK, we are passionate about rice and the health benefits that it can provide, and we are proud to offer you a selection of high-quality, low-calorie, gluten-free Japanese rice varieties. Transform your relationship with carbohydrates by making the switch to rice today!