(Simple Carbohydrates) You need carbohydrates to build stamina… but healthy carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are an essential nutrient for cancer patients who need to build up their physical strength. However, consuming large amounts of excessively refined carbohydrates carries the risk of obesity. Since obesity is a factor that increases the risk of cancer, it must be avoided. Today, we will share ways for cancer patients to consume carbohydrates healthily.

 

 

Carbohydrate foods rich in 'dietary fiber'

 

The best way to consume carbohydrates healthily is to eat mixed grain rice instead of white rice. According to a research team at Seoul National University College of Medicine, women who ate a lot of white rice and little mixed grain rice had a 35% higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who did not. Mixed grains contain two to three times more vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber than white rice. These are nutrients that help fight cancer. Mixed grains are also rich in plant compounds such as polyphenols and saponins, which provide antioxidant effects.

 

However, the biggest reason for recommending mixed grains is, above all, dietary fiber. Known as the "seventh nutrient," dietary fiber protects the body from cancer by increasing the volume of waste and reducing the absorption of carcinogens. It also prevents obesity by regulating the rate at which sugar is absorbed into the body after meals. Take a look at the dietary fiber content found in representative mixed grains.

 

Mix five kinds of grains.

 

When cooking mixed grain rice, it is best to use five or fewer types of grains. Using too many varieties can actually reduce nutritional value and make digestion difficult. In fact, a research team at Woosuk University analyzed the nutritional content of mixed grain rice with 5, 8, 16, 17, 20, and 25 grains, and found that protein and mineral content were highest when using 5 grains. The effects of polyphenols, an antioxidant, were also the best. Try cooking rice with a blend of five types: rice, millet, barley, sorghum, and black beans!

If you have difficulty digesting, you can use a lot of white rice and add only a small amount of mixed grains. A ratio of about 7:3 for the total of white rice and mixed grains will not cause any significant digestive issues.

Use green tea for the rice water.

 

Try using green tea water for cooking rice. The antioxidant nutrients in the rice become much richer compared to using plain water. According to a study published in the Korean Journal of Food and Nutrition, when 200g of white rice was cooked with green tea water (containing 3g of green tea powder), the polyphenol content—an antioxidant—increased 40 times compared to when it was cooked with regular tap water. Polyphenols are components with excellent anticancer effects that reduce free radicals in the body and prevent damage to DNA, proteins, and other tissues caused by them.

 

It is also a good idea to finely chop burdock root and cook it in a rice cooker. The zinc in burdock root enhances the activity of antioxidants. Lignin, the sticky part of the burdock root, is effective in eliminating carcinogens from the body, making it beneficial for cancer patients. It is also rich in dietary fiber. It is best to slice it as thinly as possible before adding it.

 

Occasionally, try adding beets, which are rich in betaine, the compound that gives them their red color. They have antioxidant properties. Simply peel the beets, chop them finely, and add them when cooking rice. Cooking rice with beets gives it a beautiful color and is effective in stimulating a lost appetite.

 

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Green tea, burdock root, and beetroot in the rice water.

I haven't tried putting it in.

 

I do add turmeric powder these days, though.

I think red rice would look pretty too.

 

pretty colored rice

I guess I should give it a try.