by Ruth Belena

Created on: July 07, 2008   Last Updated: August 27, 2008

Tasty whole grain brown rice has many benefits for health and is a much better choice for a weight loss diet than bland white rice. The most important reason for choosing brown rice, rather than white, is the higher nutritional value. If you are trying to lose weight, you need to eat good healthy food, which is low in fat and sugar. A healthy balanced diet must include some carbohydrates for energy.

FIVE GOOD REASONS WHY BROWN RICE IS GOOD FOR LOSING WEIGHT

1) Brown rice is better than white rice for satisfying a healthy appetite. An average serving has fewer than two hundred calories. Leading nutritionists recommend that at least half the calories in a healthy diet should come from carbohydrates.

2) Whole grain foods are an important part of healthy eating and are necessary in a good slimming diet. One cup of cooked whole grain brown rice contains around eight percent of daily fiber requirements for a man and nearly ten percent of daily requirements for an average woman.

3) Brown rice contain essential B-group vitamins, such as thiamin and niacin. It also provides Vitamin E. Brown rice will provide your body with the minerals magnesium, potassium and manganese.

4) Protein in brown rice is one of the highest quality vegetable proteins, with all the essential amino acids, which help you to lose fat and build muscle when taking exercise.

5) Brown rice is better for losing weight because it does not need to be fried or have oily ingredients added to it. Plain boiled brown rice has more taste and texture than plain white rice and will make you feel fuller for longer.

WHY YOU CAN EAT WELL AND LOSE WEIGHT WITH BROWN RICE

- Brown rice can be served with a variety of healthy low calorie, low fat foods. You can eat plain boiled brown rice with a variety of fresh vegetables. You can add cooked lean meat or any type of fish.

- Brown rice has a nice firm texture. This makes it highly suitable for salads, or for hot meals, without needing to use oily dressings or sauces, which will a add lot of extra calories.

- Cooked brown rice can be served cold and eaten with salads, mixed with healthy nutritional seeds or nuts, fruit or vegetables, fish or lean meat.

- You can buy whole grain brown rice cakes as a substitute for bread and crackers. Choose the unsalted or low salt variety and top them with low fat cream cheese, low sugar sweet spreads, slices of low fat cheese, lean meat or pieces of fruit.

- Brown rice can be used with a variety of ingredients, including herbs and spices, in Asian, Middle Eastern, Indian or Mediterranean dishes, or in any other type of cuisine you like to eat.

You would do well to choose brown rice, rather than white rice, if you want to lose weight and stay healthy.

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