|
"I drink a lot of water during my meal times and wondered if all that fluid would affect the digestive enzyme from working? I know it sounds silly but is there a rule or anything saying how much you should drink or not drink when eating."
No, not at all. Digestive enzymes are still secreted and will still digest proteins in the stomach. Carbohydrates are already partially digested in the mouth and will continue to be digested in the small intestine. Fats will not be solidified by cold water. The water your drink goes straight to the small intestine and is absorbed through the lining to produce, amongst other things ... digestive aids!!
The small intestine is largely alkaline and this is assisted by the body being adequately hydrated.
Let's put it another way - dishwashing liquid emulsifies fat on a frying pan....If you put that frying pan in water with dishwashing liquid, will the water neutralize the effects of the dishwashing liquid. No, in fact, it enhances the washing process. Don't underestimate how smart your body is. Food contains water, so doesn't it seem silly that the body wouldn't be able to cope with this?
It seems fairly logical that adding alkaline water to acidic stomach would create a neutral environment, but it doesn't work this way, stomach acids don't sit in the gut waiting for food, they are excreted from the organs when there are carbs, proteins and fats to be digested.
The general rule of thumb is to consume 2L of water daily (more if active) but some of this water comes from your food and metabolism so there is no need to drink huge amounts of water with a meal, a cup will suffice.
The idea that heaps of water fills us up and encourages us to eat less calories is not entirely true as water leaves the stomach fairly quickly - but if it helps you, then by all means keep doing it. Gulping water can also lead to us gulping air into the stomach which can make it feel full and bloated for a while.
If you are having tummy problems, please try drinking less water to rule out air and bloating, and from there keep a food diary and work on eliminating some of the suspected trigger foods. See a nutritionist or dietician if you need help with any digestive issue. Stacey, July 10 |
There are dozens of different rice varieties, and the differences lie mostly with the following:
The region/country grown in. The amount of milling. The starch content. Flavour. Farming modifications. The variety of rice itself.
By and large most rice has a similar carb/protein/fat profile. Lets have a look at a couple of the main varieties.
White rice has had the husk, bran and germ removed in milling and is then polished. This removes various nutrients from the rice including important energy giving B-Vitamins. This milling gives it a better shelf life.
Brown rice only has the husk removed and so is higher in iron, fibre, B Vitamins, essential fats and magnesium than white rice.
Basmati Rice is a type of long grain rice with a fragrant flavour, it can come in white and brown, so is subject to the same nutritional differences as standard white or brown rice. The fragrant flavour is due to a particular compound naturally occurring in the rice.
Sticky rice (glutinous rice) can also come in white or brown, but the difference here is in its high starch content (amylose and amlyopectin) which is where it gets its stickiness from. This is not gluten. Arborio rice is from Italy and is similar in its starch content.
Brown rice (of any variety) will contain a better micronutrient profile than its white counterpart, but there are some dishes that work better with white rice your choice will depend on your health and fitness goals, the dish you are cooking and the effort you want to go to, to find the perfect rice.
When it comes to pre-cooked rice, read your labels. Some will contain either flavour enhancer, MSG or other additives. These things can affect our energy levels and cause other symptoms, so if youre trying to avoid these, ensure your ingredients label isnt full of words you cant pronounce or numbers. Uncle Bens have a range of both flavoured and plain rice and there are some flavoured additive free ones.
Read all rice packets well. If you are aiming for a particular number of calories or carbs then you will need to adjust your serving size from what is listed on the pack. Read carefully to see if the packet is giving you cooked amounts or uncooked. The amount of water you cook your rice with, cooking method, cooking time, standing time and amount of starch not rinsed off will determine your cooked rice weight. For example a ¼ cup uncooked rice might be cooked up to half a cup for one person, while another may get ¾ cup out of it. If calories are king, use uncooked rice as your measurements.
Stacey
30 June 10
More Articles...
- How do I overcome constipation?
- What are glutamates and how do they affect cravings?
- Lowdown on Lemon Detox
- Water vs Electrolytes
- Tips to avoid the flu
- Can you mix meat and fruit at same meal?
- Fresh or Frozen Vegetables?
- Fresh vs Canned Tuna
- Flax Oil or Ground Flaxseed
- How much Vitamin C do I need?
- Choosing a Protein Bar
- What should I look for in breakfast cereals?
- Is Acai Berry good for weight loss?
- Is light Olive Oil really light?
- How do antioxidants work?
Go on facebook!
 |
Follow us on facebook and keep up to date with latest news and activities |