Whole Truth About Healthy Living

Just read an article on yahoo about eating healthily. That made me think about my own diet and food choices that i make. I am glad to say that as much as i enjoy my haagen daz and fried food, i actually make pretty good food choices. I prefer eating whole meal bread and brown rice than normal white ones and almost all the time, i'll try to include vegetables into my meal.

well, if you read the article, it says that popcorn, contrary to popular beliefs, is healthy! wooo but too much popcorn for me actually makes me puke (found that out last night after a movie -.- ) but i only ate like half a small pack haha. ok plus half a cup of ice lemon tea. but anyways, popcorn with too much butter,salt or caramel is STILL unhealthy!

so if u continue reading the article, it talks about barley, buckwheat and quinoa (no idea whats this) as well. i am very happy to know that the soba noodles i have been eating at home is made with buckwheat and its healthy too yay!! i also do drink barley now and then when my maid makes it. so double yay!

the Health Promotion Board is actively trying to promote healthy eating and voted for an initiative to replace half the refined carbo that we eat with unrefined ones such as whole grains. i totally welcome that as i find it frustrating to not be able to get ANY whole grains when im dining outside. white rice and white bread is so blah...

so i beseech all of you to try out some wholegrains and eat healthily too! please take some time to read the article below too!







"A meal without rice is no meal," goes a famous Japanese proverb, and people all over Asia tend to agree. Likewise in Singapore most dishes are accompanied with rice-signature dishes such as nasi lemak, chicken rice, nasi padang and even popular desserts such as the Nyonya kueh are all rice-based.

Yet last year, the Singapore Health Promotion Board voted for an initiative to replace half the amount of refined carbohydrates we eat (white rice chief among them) with unrefined foods such as wholegrains. Within the same month, food retailers and vendors were incorporating wholegrain dishes into their menu and processed foods with wholegrain ingredients were labelled more accurately to increase public awareness.
But what exactly are wholegrain foods and how are they better for us?
A grain is considered whole when it does not go through the milling and polishing process, thus retaining all its three parts: the germ, bran and endosperm. The germ and bran are important sources of fiber and nutrients, which helps slow down the process of digestion so that blood sugar levels do not spike as they do in response to refined grains. This way, wholegrains can help lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes. And, because they make you feel full for longer, they are also recommended in weight loss efforts.
One of the easiest way to get more wholegrains into your diet, especially if it's a Singaporean diet, is to opt for brown over white rice. Last month, The Straits Times reported that more of us are buying brown rice now than ever. Chewy in texture and with a slightly nutty flavor, it's a tasty way to get that all important fiber in your diet. Readily available at every grocery store and many food courts, one cup of brown rice has three times more fiber than the same amount of white rice.
Other wholegrains:
Popcorn is a type of wholegrain, which means it's healthy, contrary to popular opinion. Popped corn retains its vitamin-rich bran and germ, and three cups of popcorn is equivalent to a single serving of wholegrain. But to enjoy all the health benefits, you'll need to avoid the copious amounts of salt and butter used in commercially prepared popcorn.
Barley (a protein powerhouse), buckwheat (the main constituent of soba noodles and good for reversing the effects of cholesterol) and quinoa (an ancient grain already popular with the gluten-free crowd).

*edit*

The Health Promotion Board came up with this iPhone application to help you track your diet and how much calories you are consuming in a day. they have included many local food in the list so its very useful! do d/l it if u have a iPhone as its free!




Monday, November 15, 2010 | Labels: |

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2 comments:

thm said...

yayyy okay im downloading it right away!

November 16, 2010 at 12:07 AM  
elizabeth said...

tt is so fierce. you "beseech" us to eat healthier! hahaha

very elaborate helpful posts. thumbs up!

November 16, 2010 at 3:56 PM  

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