Brown Rice

Wild Rice, Tomato & Rocket Balsamic Salad

Rice is a staple in diets all over the world and with good reason, its countless varieties make it an incredibly versatile ingredient, with each type having their own taste, appearance, texture and most importantly nutritional make-ups. Across the world there are over forty thousand varieties of rice being cultivated, so for now we will focus on the most popular types of rice, how to cook them and their health benefits. Long, short or medium, know your grain In most cases rice can be assigned one of three categories, long grain, short grain or medium grain. As its name suggests, short grain rice is typically smaller and rounder with a starchier texture, making it ideal for rice puddings or sushi. Long grain rice on the other hand is longer and thinner, with a fluffier texture, making it well suited for more general recipes. Finally as expected, medium grain rice fits in between long and short grain, it has a slightly sticky starchy texture like short grain rice, but is shaped more like long grain rice, making it a great ingredient for savoury creamy dishes, like paella or risotto.v Long grain white rice Generic long grain white rice is rice that has had its husk, bran and germ removed, this makes it more easily digestible and provides it with its signature almost shiny white colour. White rice has a very neutral flavour which makes it a great base for building a meal around without overwhelming any other ingredients. However, as white rice has had its bran and germ removed it is less nutritionally well rounded than brown rice, so it is important to balance it with nutritionally complete ingredients. That is not to say that white rice isn’t healthy in its own right, it is still a good source of easily digestible carbohydrates, and if you buy enriched white rice then it can be a good way to increase your vitamin B and iron intake. While it can vary from brand to brand, generally speaking, when cooking white rice follow the ratio of 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water. Brown rice Unlike white rice, brown rice still has its bran and germ intact, this allows it to retain its fibre, making it slightly harder to digest but much more nutritionally complete. As well as having more fibre, brown rice also provides a lot more magnesium, iron and b vitamins than generic white rice would. Being nutritionally dense is not the only reason to opt for brown rather than white rice, it also has a lower glycaemic index. The glycaemic index is a way of categorising how quickly carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels, so generally speaking the lower a food's glycaemic index is, the better it is for both energy release and heart health. The nutritional power of brown rice is the primary reason for its massive popularity, but its slightly nutty taste and chewy texture makes it much less versatile than white rice, and its cooking time is often longer. Jasmine VS Basmati Rice Both Jasmine and Basmati rice are incredibly popular long-grained and aromatic and white, but their textures and subtle differences in flavour give them very different uses. Basmati rice originates from south asia, and is most commonly used in indian and pakistani cuisines. The rich nutty flavour of basmati rice makes it a great accompaniment to intense spices, and its firm yet fluffy texture goes perfectly with creamy curries and dals. On the other hand, jasmine rice hails from thailand and cambodia, and it has a much more delicate almost floral flavour, and a sticky clumpy texture. It is in this sticky texture that jasmine rice really sets itself apart from other white rices, and is what makes it so well suited to east asian cuisine. Basmati rice has a marginally lower glycaemic index, and contains slightly more fibre making it a little bit healthier than jasmine rice overall, but it is best to use each rice according to the meal you are cooking unless you are purely focusing on their health benefits. It is also important to note that jasmine and basmati rice have different cooking instructions, as basmati rice is hardier it requires soaking before it is cooked, and often needs to be cooked for longer than jasmine rice. Wild rice - why is it so amazing? Wild rice is a type of grass originating from north america, where it was a staple part of native american diets for centuries. Much like generic brown rice, wild rice has a chewy texture and a very rich earthy taste, but it also has the benefit of being incredibly nutritionally balanced. Rich in protein, with a middling glycaemic index, and an abundance of antioxidants, wild rice is arguably more nutritionally well rounded than the majority of traditional rices. As wild rice is so chewy it can be a great help in making any meal more filling, particularly stews and soups but also as a stuffing for vegetables or meats. The two golden rules for cooking rice: ● It is always best to thoroughly wash your rice before you cook it, not just to remove any unwanted debris but also to remove excess starch. Excess starch is often what gives rice an unpleasant sludge-like texture which can derail an entire meal. ● Different ratios of water to rice can drastically alter the texture of your rice, for example when cooking white rice, a ratio of 2:1 (liquid to rice) will produce a softer rice, whereas a ratio of 1:1 will produce a tougher chewier final result. Why you should be cooking with rice more often? Once you understand the advantages and disadvantages of different types of rice, as well as their unique textures and flavour profiles, cooking with rice becomes significantly easier, and a lot more fun! Not only are there thousands of types of rice, there are also countless ways to experiment with them, so whether you’re a master chef or just looking to try new things, using different varieties of rice and cooking them in different ways is a great way to open culinary doors while staying healthy. Rice is a staple in diets all over the world and with good reason, its countless varieties make it an incredibly versatile ingredient, with each type having their own taste, appearance,texture and most importantly nutritional make-ups. Across the world there are over forty thousand varieties of rice being cultivated, so for now we will focus on the most popular types of rice, how to cook them and their health benefits. Long, short or medium, know your grain: In most cases rice can be assigned one of three categories, long grain, short grain or medium grain. As its name suggests, short grain rice is typically smaller and rounder with a starchier texture, making it ideal for rice puddings or sushi. Long grain rice on the other hand is longer and thinner, with a fluffier texture, making it well suited for more general recipes. Finally as expected, medium grain rice fits in between long and short grain, it has a slightly sticky starchy texture like short grain rice, but is shaped more like long grain rice, making it a great ingredient for savoury creamy dishes, like paella or risotto. Long grain white rice: Generic long grain white rice is rice that has had its husk, bran and germ removed, this makes it more easily digestible and provides it with its signature almost shiny white colour. White rice has a very neutral flavour which makes it a great base for building a meal around without overwhelming any other ingredients. However, as white rice has had its bran and germ removed it is less nutritionally well rounded than brown rice, so it is important to balance it with nutritionally complete ingredients. That is not to say that white rice isn’t healthy in its own right, it is still a good source of easily digestible carbohydrates, and if you buy enriched white rice then it can be a good way to increase your vitamin B and iron intake. While it can vary from brand to brand, generally speaking, when cooking white rice follow the ratio of 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water. Brown rice: Unlike white rice, brown rice still has its bran and germ intact, this allows it to retain its fibre, making it slightly harder to digest but much more nutritionally complete. As well as having more fibre, brown rice also provides a lot more magnesium, iron and b vitamins than generic white rice would. Being nutritionally dense is not the only reason to opt for brown rather than white rice, it also has a lower glycaemic index. The glycaemic index is a way of categorising how quickly carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels, so generally speaking the lower a food's glycaemic index is, the better it is for both energy release and heart health. The nutritional power of brown rice is the primary reason for its massive popularity, but its slightly nutty taste and chewy texture makes it much less versatile than white rice, and its cooking time is often longer. Jasmine VS Basmati Rice: Both Jasmine and Basmati rice are incredibly popular long-grained and aromatic and white, but their textures and subtle differences in flavour give them very different uses. Basmati rice originates from south asia, and is most commonly used in indian and pakistani cuisines. The rich nutty flavour of basmati rice makes it a great accompaniment to intense spices, and its firm yet fluffy texture goes perfectly with creamy curries and dals. On the other hand, jasmine rice hails from thailand and cambodia, and it has a much more delicate almost floral flavour, and a sticky clumpy texture. It is in this sticky texture that jasmine rice really sets itself apart from other white rices, and is what makes it so well suited to east asian cuisine. Basmati rice has a marginally lower glycaemic index, and contains slightly more fibre making it a little bit healthier than jasmine rice overall, but it is best to use each rice according to the meal you are cooking unless you are purely focusing on their health benefits. It is also important to note that jasmine and basmati rice have different cooking instructions, as basmati rice is hardier it requires soaking before it is cooked, and often needs to be cooked for longer than jasmine rice. Wild rice, and why it’s amazing: Wild rice is a type of grass originating from north america, where it was a staple part of native american diets for centuries. Much like generic brown rice, wild rice has a chewy texture and a very rich earthy taste, but it also has the benefit of being incredibly nutritionally balanced. Rich in protein, with a middling glycaemic index, and an abundance of antioxidants, wild rice is arguably more nutritionally well rounded than the majority of traditional rices. As wild rice is so chewy it can be a great help in making any meal more filling, particularly stews and soups but also as a stuffing for vegetables or meats. The two golden rules for cooking rice: ● It is always best to thoroughly wash your rice before you cook it, not just to remove any unwanted debris but also to remove excess starch. Excess starch is often what gives rice an unpleasant sludge-like texture which can derail an entire meal. ● Different ratios of water to rice can drastically alter the texture of your rice, for example when cooking white rice, a ratio of 2:1 (liquid to rice) will produce a softer rice, whereas a ratio of 1:1 will produce a tougher chewier final result. Why you should be cooking with rice more often: Once you understand the advantages and disadvantages of different types of rice, as well as their unique textures and flavour profiles, cooking with rice becomes significantly easier, and a lot more fun! Not only are there thousands of types of rice, there are also countless ways to experiment with them, so whether you’re a master chef or just looking to try new things, using different varieties of rice and cooking them in different ways is a great way to open culinary doors while staying healthy.

What are whole grains? Whole grains are among some of the healthiest wholefoods you can eat, but what exactly do we mean by whole grains? Whole grains as you might have guessed are a type of grain, but specifically those that still have their germ and bran, unlike their refined counterparts. Generally speaking whole grains come in three main categories; cereals like wheat or rice, minor cereals like millets and pseudocereals like quinoa or buckwheat. For now we’ll focus on the healthiest and most popular whole grains, but there are plenty of varieties to explore and experiment with! Quinoa - the superfood you need in your kitchen. Originating from South America, quinoa has been grown for thousands of years, but only seems to be getting more and more popular, and with good reason. Unlike most other whole grains quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids that the body needs but cannot produce itself. This can be particularly important for those on plant based diets, as some of these amino acids, like lysine can be incredibly hard to find in plants. Not only is quinoa an amazing source of protein, iron and fibre it also has strong anti-inflammatory properties that make it truly unique when compared to other grains like rice or couscous. Alongside quinoa’s incredible nutritional makeup, it is also naturally gluten free so it can be a great healthy alternative for those who are celiac or gluten intolerant. Oats - a perfect whole grain for long lasting energy. Oats are a classic healthy breakfast staple, whether in overnight oats or a more traditional porridge, they are famed for its ability to keep you feeling full and energised all through the day. However oats actually have countless health benefits alongside satisfying your appetite. Oats have incredibly high levels of fibre, which is obviously great for digestion, but in particular they contain the hard to come by beta-glucan which is exceptionally good for heart health. Similarly, the low glycaemic index of oats makes them a great tool for keeping your blood sugar on track, and their slow burning energy release means they can even help with weight loss! Brown rice, and why you need it in your diet: Brown rice is one of the best whole grains you can incorporate into your diet, especially since it is so easy to swap out white rice in favour of the healthier option. Brown rice is so much healthier than white rice because of the amazing nutritional content of its bran and germ, which makes it better for you in pretty much every way. Firstly, brown rice has a significantly higher fibre content than white rice, which makes it infinitely better for digestion and gut health. Secondly brown rice contains more iron, magnesium, b vitamins and oxidants than white rice. Thirdly and most importantly, brown rice has been shown to help with weight management and reduce the risk of heart disease and type two diabetes! The best time to incorporate whole grains into your diet is now: The overwhelming health benefits of these whole grains should make them a high priority for anyone looking to live healthily, and swapping over to them is remarkably easy. There are also countless more whole grains waiting for you to try, so don’t feel limited to stick to the ones mentioned above, we even have recipes available here to show you how to really get the most from your whole grains. Whether this is your entry point into healthy eating, or you’re just trying to make even more improvements to your diet, whole grains are definitely the way to go!

Have you tried to cook rice and failed? Is your cooked rice too soft or too hard and stuck to the bottom of the pot? Do you think cooking rice is a nightmare? If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, this article it for you! Indeed, rice may be one of those problematic ingredients in the kitchen and you may think it's hard to cook it correctly. But once you learn a few tips, you will realise it's actually very easy. And pleasant - as in a maximum of twenty minutes, you will be able to enjoy beautifully cooked rice and half of your lunch or dinner ready. Tip 1 - Rinse the rice Just place the rice under the tap and wash it with cold water. Rinsing the rice will help you get rid of the starch. Starch is that dusty thing that makes rice too sticky, and we definitely don't want it here. Tip 2 - Use a good pot The best pots to cook rice are those made with stainless steel and aluminium. They allow the heat to be distributed evenly. Use a medium size pot with a lid. Tip 3. Magic ratio 1:2 You should always check the packaging of the rice for cooking instructions. But remember the ratio of 1:2. This means we need one part of rice and two parts of water (never the opposite). For Basmati rice, for example, you can use a bit less water. Tip 4 - Add salt and rice to boiling water Bring the water to boiling and add some salt depending on the amount of rice you're cooking. When you add rice, the water temperature will decrease quickly and will stop boiling. Tip 5- Keep the lid on Always keep the lid on your rice pot. Cook the rice on low heat and let it simmer. You don't want the water to cook faster than the rice gets soft. You want the steam to stay inside the pot. Tip 6 - You can add spices Now, it's a good moment to add spices. You can use whatever spices you like. You can cook rice with cardamon seeds or bay leaves for a unique flavour. You can also add a spoon of plant-based butter or olive oil (if you prefer). Tip 7 - Cooking time: 18 minutes for white rice & 30 minutes for brown rice White rice only needs 18 minutes to get tender, while brown rice needs 30 minutes to cook. Set a timer to know more or less when the rice is ready. Sometimes, it may need another 1 or 2 minutes to be cooked to perfection. There shouldn't be any water left in the pot, but if there is a lit bit left, it's not a biggie - just drain it out. Check the rice - if it is tender, then it's ready. Tip 8 - Put it aside for a few minutes Before serving, rice needs some time to cool down. Just take the pot from the stove and leave it alone for a few minutes. You can remove the lid while waiting and enjoy the view of your beautifully cooked rice :)

Adding more whole grains and nuts to your diet can have an amazing impact on your brain health! If you want to keep your brain healthy, try to avoid simple carbohydrates. They break down quickly into sugars. When you eat simple carbs you may feel a spike of energy that will last only for a short while. High sugar makes your brain work functioning decrease. Replace bad carbs with good carbs When shopping for food and preparing meals at home try to cut out refined carbohydrates and replace them with whole grains and nuts. They contain complex carbohydrates that processed by your body in a good way. These carbs break down slowly and sugars are released gradually. That means the energy is released slowly and your body and brain will function in a more efficient way. Stock your pantry with healthy whole grains Whole grains, such as brown rice, barley, oats, barley, and quinoa are high in B vitamins and can potentially preserving your memory. Vitamins B help reduce inflammation of the brain and work to convert homocysteine (amino acid) into essential brain chemicals used for learning and maintaining memories. Whole grains are also significantly rich in magnesium which keeps your brain cells and nervous system healthily connected. Magnesium helps pass on the signals between your brain and body. It improves the functioning of the neurotransmitters responsible for attention. Add nuts to your diet Add more nuts to your diet. Walnuts for example, contain the beneficial Omega-3 fatty acid. Eating more walnuts can improve cognitive function of your brain and help reduce the risk of diseases, such as depression, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia. Almonds and Hazelnuts are great sources of vitamin E. This vitamin is associated with reducing the cognitive decline related to aging. Peanuts contain a lot of niacin. Niacin deficiencies are related to cognitive decline as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Plus, nuts are also packed with magnesium! Tips and swaps for a healthy brain Here's the list of tips for healthy whole grain swaps and alternatives for refined carbohydrates: swap instant oat meal or ready-to-eat cereal mixes with whole oats choose buckwheat instead of potatoes or white rice go for bulgur and barley regularly replace white rice with brown rice eat more quinoa always have nuts & seeds near you for a healthy snack replace white bread and past with whole grain brad and pasta Adding more whole foods to your diet offer many health benefits for your whole body, including nervous system and brain. Move away the processed foods and swap unhealthy products with whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Start adding more whole foods to your diet little and you will see the difference!