Brown Rice for better health

[Mikey]

Thank you for sharing the interesting details about pressure cookers! And I thought they destroy nutrients!

It is much more preferable and certainly a lot healthier and easier to cook on a gas stove, so if you have an all-electric kitchen it is certainly worth your health, time and expenditure to invest in a two-burner stove top gas burner, just for cooking the rice or other grain and/or beans that you are pressure cooking.

Hmm, it seems she is saying that the heat from a real flame has different, healthier properties than the heat generated from electricity. I found another quote regarding real flames:

Since the dawn of civilisation, we have cooked with fire and the modern interpretation of this flame is the recommendation to use gas rather than electricity or microwave. While a flame will not necessarily change the nutritional value of the food compared to the use of electricity or microwave, it will certainly change the Chi. I personally dislike the lack of visible control that electricity or microwave cooking provides me with as I cook. The flame is the full expression of fire energy and as such, is a microcosm of what the source of so much of our Chi in life is - the sun. Simply speaking, when we cook we are placing a little bit of sun under our food and with skill and practise, we can adjust this fire to suit our needs. If you have not cooked for a long time on a flame, then consider preparing your food on a gas stove (even a portable camping unit) for a 10 day period and notice how different the food not only tastes but the change of Chi that you become aware of.

 

[Jacques]

Thank you for sharing the interesting details about pressure cookers! And I thought they destroy nutrients!

It is much more preferable and certainly a lot healthier and easier to cook on a gas stove, so if you have an all-electric kitchen it is certainly worth your health, time and expenditure to invest in a two-burner stove top gas burner, just for cooking the rice or other grain and/or beans that you are pressure cooking.

Here's another type of vapor control cooking.

http://www.fogacci.com/uk/azienda.php

I am using one of these models and the taste is just wonderful.

From the same website, they say:

To cook well, you must use a temperature as moderate, uniform and constant as possible, which cannot in general be guaranteed by normal saucepans. In this way, without risk of burning and without continually stirring, you can prepare any kind of food, such as stews, vegetables, hashes, gravies and sauces, that are always perfect and full of taste. Rice dishes, creams, jams, or baby-foods, if cooked at the right temperature, can be forgotten on the stove for the whole cooking time without going lumpy and with still excellent results.

 

[Ollie]

Quote from: http://www.alchemycalpages.com/prbr.html
It is much more preferable and certainly a lot healthier and easier to cook on a gas stove, so if you have an all-electric kitchen it is certainly worth your health, time and expenditure to invest in a two-burner stove top gas burner, just for cooking the rice or other grain and/or beans that you are pressure cooking.

Sherry Rogers in one of her books, either The Cure is in the Kitchen or Macro Mellow (or both) states that cooking over a gas flame is the preferred and healthiest method.

 

[Manu]

Thank you Laura for the information and links regarding pressure cooking. I use my pressure cooker regularly to cook grains, beans, occasionally to cook meat and now brown rice which I've learned to love. In my opinion the food tastes better than normal cooking, specially now that I use only filtered water (from reverse osmosis). It seems that the trick is to lower the heat when it starts hissing so that nutrients won't be destroyed.

It is also a good idea to choose good quality stainless steel cookware. This site has an interesting tip regarding this:

_http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/colds-flu/teflon-cookware-flu-symptoms-00207.html

Stainless steel is another alternative, although stainless steel often contains nickel, which is toxic. But a member named M.K. offered this clever tip for easily gauging nickel content: 'There is a simple test to determine if your stainless - or the stainless you wish to purchase - is okay or not. If a magnet sticks to your pot/pan - you are safe. If it does not, there is too much nickel.'

 

[MichaelM]

I've read elsewhere a couple of months ago about GABA/GBR rice which is sprouting the brown rice before cooking it.
This wikipedia page mentions it: _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_rice

A nutritionally superior method of preparation using GABA rice or germinated brown rice (GBR), developed during the International Year of Rice, may be used.[3] This involves soaking washed brown rice for 20 hours in warm water (38 °C or 100 °F) prior to cooking it. This process stimulates germination, which activates various enzymes in the rice. By this method, it is possible to obtain a more complete amino acid profile, including GABA.

Here is an old article about GABA rice: _http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2000/A/200000373.html

Soaking brown rice before cooking makes it more nutritious, researchers say

HONOLULU, Dec. 16 - A team of Japanese scientists has found that inducing brown rice to germinate - by soaking it for several hours before it is cooked - enhances its already high nutritional value.

The findings were presented here today during the 2000 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies. The weeklong scientific meeting, held once every five years, is hosted by the American Chemical Society, in conjunction with its counterparts in Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.

Germinated rice contains much more fiber than conventional brown rice, three times the amount of the essential amino acid lysine, and ten times the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), another amino acid known to improve kidney function.

The researchers also found that brown rice sprouts - tiny buds less than a millimeter tall (1/16 of an inch) - contain a potent inhibitor of an enzyme called protylendopetidase, which is implicated in Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers determined that germination activates enzymes that liberate additional nutrients. "The birth of a sprout activates dormant enzymes in the brown rice all at once to supply the best nutrition to the growing sprout," explained Hiroshi Kayahara, Ph.D., the lead investigator on the project, and a biochemist from Shinshu University in Nagano, Japan.

Rice, whether brown or white, is a major part of most Asian diets, often eaten with nearly every meal. That adds up to 300-400 pounds per person each year, according to the Asia Rice Foundation. Americans eat much less rice, about 15 pounds per person each year. Europeans eat even less rice, little more than six pounds per person each year.

To make the rice sprout, the researchers soaked it in water at 32 degrees C (about 90 degrees F) for 22 hours. The outer bran layer softened and absorbed water easily, making the rice easier to cook. Cooked sprouted rice has a sweet flavor, the researchers report, because the liberated enzymes break down some of the sugar and protein in the grain.

White rice will not germinate using this process, notes Kayahara.

And here is an FAQ page on some of the hi-tech rice cookers from Japan that have a "GABA cooking" function (though the pre-soak times are only 5 hours compared to the 22 hours recommended in most articles): _http://www.zojirushi.com/servicesupport/faq/faq_ricecooker.html#q16

Q16. What is GABA brown rice?
A16. This is not a new variety of brown rice, but a newly discovered way of cooking brown rice to “activate” it and increase natural occurring gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid in brown rice believed to have health giving properties such as lowering blood pressure, improving kidney function and relieving stress. The brown rice is “activated” by soaking the rice at 104 degrees F for 2 hours before the actual cooking begins. This feature is available in select Induction Heating Rice Cookers (See How to Choose and Compare).

 

[Beau]

I'm starting the brown rice fast today and was wondering, do ya'll still drink the detox shakes in the morning while on the fast? I figure you do, but just wanted to make sure I wasn't going outside the bounds of a true fast by adding the shake.

 

[Laura]

I'm starting the brown rice fast today and was wondering, do ya'll still drink the detox shakes in the morning while on the fast? I figure you do, but just wanted to make sure I wasn't going outside the bounds of a true fast by adding the shake.

Yeah, I'm doing the detox shake in the morning:

1 cup berries
1 cup rice milk
scoop rice protein
scoops of
L-Glutamine
Creatine
Arginine
Tyrosine
Carnitine
GABA
2 Tbsps flax seeds
4 Tbsps flax oil
3 grams Vitamin C
scoop Pro-Greens
3 big spoons of xylitol!!!

Note that this is MY mixture. Not for everyone necessarily, though it is a good general recipe for many.

And using ghee on the rice.

Already feeling better though I slacked today because well.... we ran out of rice!!!

 

[wanderer]

I had no idea you had such skill in that department, wanderer. Wanna give a newbie a few pointers? :P

Hi abstract,

I don't know about skill, but I've done a lot of reading and had a lot of experience with fasting. You should check out this thread: Fasting, Gluten, MSG, Soy, Blood Type Diet http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=5882.0.

There's also a thread about Master Cleanse http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=7745.0.

A fast, as I understand it, can be any regimen where you severely restrict your caloric intake. I'm on day 2 of the brown rice fast now, and haven't experienced any of the usual symptoms, even though I'm kicking caffeine at the same time. I recommend it for a first time faster, and it might be all you ever need.

I've done water fasts (the hardest one to do, with the worst withdrawal/herxheimer symptoms), master cleanse and different variations of juice fasting. Eventually I settled on juice fasting, taking only fresh vegetable/apple juice, veggie broth and herbal teas. Mostly I would fast for around 5 days, sometimes ten, once for 40. Since the first day or two of a fast can be pretty unpleasant if you've got a lot of toxins in your system, I never liked doing one day fasts, going through feeling crappy without the experience that you get when everything is cleared out on day 3 or 4. You feel so peaceful, and have the best meditations ever. To me it's worth doing just for that.

As a weight loss method (not an issue for you, probably) it's not very useful. Your metabolism slows to a crawl and any weight you lose is quickly regained when you start eating again. Your body thinks you're starving and goes into overtime storing up for the next time of shortage. It's a mistake to think of fasting as quick fix for anything ,really, but it can be a valuable part of your overall health plan if you're a normal healthy person - no serious health problems, drugs or meds.

Here's the outline for a juice fast:

Start with a day of eating only raw fruits and vegetables. Take an herbal laxative before bed.

Starting on the first day of the fast, no solid food, only fresh veggie juice (you could use powdered green drinks if you don't have a juicer), veggie broth (boil beets, potatoes, carrots, celery and parsley in a big pot of water, enough to last for days) and herbal tea. Don't use too many carrots, they have too much sugar. By the end of the day you'll probably have a headache (or at least I usually did), and you'll want to go to bed early.

If you're still feeling bad the next morning an enema helps a lot. You may want to do them every day until your digestive system is functioning normally, after the fast is done.

It takes around three days for everything to get cleared out of you digestive system. You'll know when that happens, over a couple hours you start to feel really great. Use this time to meditate, it may be the best meditation you've ever had.

When you're ready to come off the fast eat small portions of light food, salads. fruit, raw and cooked veggies, brown rice. No beans or meat until your system is fired up again. Then go and sin no more :)

Try the brown rice fast first and see how it goes.

Moderator edit: Fixed quote boxes

 

[abstract]

don't know about skill

Sorry, it was for lack of a better term.

but I've done a lot of reading and had a lot of experience with fasting. You should check out this thread: Fasting, Gluten, MSG, Soy, Blood Type Diet http://www.cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=5882.0.

I have read that thread but i suppose everything on this forum deserves a few re-reads, at least 3 times.

A fast, as I understand it, can be any regimen where you severely restrict your caloric intake

Thank you, I appreciate straightforward explanations! :D

I'm on day 2 of the brown rice fast now, and haven't experienced any of the usual symptoms, even though I'm kicking caffeine at the same time. I recommend it for a first time faster, and it might be all you ever need.

It seems like a safe bet to me, assuming one can be consistent and disciplined. And above all, be prepared.

As a weight loss method (not an issue for you, probably) it's not very useful

I have sticks for arms, so yeah, no weight issues here.

when everything is cleared out on day 3 or 4. You feel so peaceful, and have the best meditations ever. To me it's worth doing just for that.

That's what I hear! I'm looking forward to it, someday.

If you're still feeling bad the next morning an enema helps a lot. You may want to do them every day until your digestive system is functioning normally, after the fast is done.

Where does one acquire the equipment to perform an enema? Is it 100% neseccary, or just depending on how your body works?

I also want to mention that at anarts suggestion, i got vitamin C tday, along with some 5htp. I'm already feeling a little bit better. :)

 

[wanderer]

Where does one acquire the equipment to perform an enema? Is it 100% neseccary, or just depending on how your body works?

You can get a fleet enema bag at the drugstore. A surgical supply will have an extension that will reach up into the colon for a DIY colonic. Sorry, don't know what it's called, it's been years since I bought mine.

Enemas are not necessary, I suppose, but they help to get the toxins out of your body faster, instead of sitting in your lower GI tract getting reabsorbed and making you feel lousy. Not so important for the brown rice fast, since the fiber in the rice keeps everything moving, but I wouldn't do a juice fast without one.

 

[realitybugll]

* Plan for a light workload during a fast. Don't overdo. Moderate exercise is ok, even helpful, but save the more strenuous workouts for another time. Walking and yoga are particularly well-suited to fasting.

When I read this from Laura's post, I thought of ISOTM.

In the first place G. explained at the beginning of the fast that the difficulty in fasting
consisted in not leaving unused the substances which are prepared in the organism for
the digestion of food.
"These substances consist of very strong solutions," he said. "And if they are left
without attention they will poison the organism. They must be used up. But how can
they be used up if the organism gets no food? Only by an increase of work, an
increase of perspiration. People make a tremendous mistake when they try to 'save
their strength,' make fewer movements, and so on, when fasting. On the contrary it is
necessary to expend as much energy as possible. Then fasting can be beneficial."
And when we began our fast we were not left in peace for a single second. G. made
us run in the heat, doing a round of two miles, or stand with extended arms, or mark
time at the double, or carry out a whole series of curious gymnastic exercises which he
showed us.

I wonder about this...

______________________
Also I want to add that I have been eating Lundberg "Brown Rice Organic Rice Cakes" for at least the last couple months. On the bag it claims: "Gluton Fee" and "vegan" and the ingredients say: "Organic whole grain brown rice, sea salt"

I go through probably about two bags a week of them and they are one of my snack foods :)

I wonder if nutrients is lost when the rice is put into the cake form. If not this might be a nice substitute instead of cooking your own brown rice though I realize it is cheaper and doesn't take much work. You can find them at a trader Joe's near you... :)

 

[abstract]

In the first place G. explained at the beginning of the fast that the difficulty in fasting
consisted in not leaving unused the substances which are prepared in the organism for
the digestion of food.
"These substances consist of very strong solutions," he said. "And if they are left
without attention they will poison the organism. They must be used up. But how can
they be used up if the organism gets no food? Only by an increase of work, an
increase of perspiration. People make a tremendous mistake when they try to 'save
their strength,' make fewer movements, and so on, when fasting. On the contrary it is
necessary to expend as much energy as possible. Then fasting can be beneficial."
And when we began our fast we were not left in peace for a single second. G. made
us run in the heat, doing a round of two miles, or stand with extended arms, or mark
time at the double, or carry out a whole series of curious gymnastic exercises which he
showed us.

I wonder about this...

This has got me to thinking...wouldn't it be a little easier to carry on a fast if one is at least occupied in some way, for as long as he or she can reasonably stand?
Like, clean the house maybe? Reorganize something? Immerse yourself into a hobby? Just a thought. :)

 

[Laura]

A fast, as I understand it, can be any regimen where you severely restrict your caloric intake. I'm on day 2 of the brown rice fast now, and haven't experienced any of the usual symptoms, even though I'm kicking caffeine at the same time. I recommend it for a first time faster, and it might be all you ever need.

I'm on day three. The instructions I read were not so much focused on calorie restriction as just focusing on the single food to the exclusion of others. You sorta naturally eat less anyway though you aren't supposed to focus on that.

So, yesterday I had a little fun thinking of different ways to eat brown rice and ghee. For lunch, I had brown rice and ghee with a brown rice cracker with a little ghee on it... it was funny! For dinner, I had brown rice warmed up with a bit of brown rice milk poured on it like cereal!

I've done water fasts (the hardest one to do, with the worst withdrawal/herxheimer symptoms),

Oh yeah! The last one I did, on day 19, I though I was gonna DIE!

master cleanse and different variations of juice fasting. Eventually I settled on juice fasting, taking only fresh vegetable/apple juice, veggie broth and herbal teas. Mostly I would fast for around 5 days, sometimes ten, once for 40.

23 days was my longest and that was just water. I was about 25 then, had a lot less toxicity, so it was easy and felt good about all the way.

Since the first day or two of a fast can be pretty unpleasant if you've got a lot of toxins in your system, I never liked doing one day fasts, going through feeling crappy without the experience that you get when everything is cleared out on day 3 or 4. You feel so peaceful, and have the best meditations ever. To me it's worth doing just for that.

I agree. There's no reason for a one day fast at all IMO.

As a weight loss method (not an issue for you, probably) it's not very useful. Your metabolism slows to a crawl and any weight you lose is quickly regained when you start eating again. Your body thinks you're starving and goes into overtime storing up for the next time of shortage.

Exactly. If you want to lose weight, you have to eat.

It's a mistake to think of fasting as quick fix for anything ,really, but it can be a valuable part of your overall health plan if you're a normal healthy person - no serious health problems, drugs or meds.

Very much so! Being basically healthy to start with is necessary unless there is some particular condition and you are fasting under medical supervision.

 

[Ca.]

Thanks Laura . This a great staple and I use it a lot, as a side with different meals. that i might prepare at the la casa. I do a different variation that some of you might want to try as to variation to just steamed brown rice, to mix it up a bit. Its time test recipe has great flavor which is in hences by the nutty flavor that is consistant with its characteristics .

Start with cast iron skilet ( forget Teflon it will only make you sick as the heat needed to do this are recommend for those coated with that surfice, also pans with plastic handles off gas as well and will sick as well ). In the cast iron pan ( or skilit ) perheat some olive oil but not to high a heat as you don't want it to smoke just get warm.

1. start by adding one chopped up onion.
2. Next saute the onion and a one clove of garlic chopped also and satate them both until some what clear or translucent as i thick that this pushes some of the sugar from the onion you will smell this effect as the aroma of it off gassing so to speak like a light sweet smell of browing the onion and the garlic.
3. next through one cup brown rice and again with heat low continue to saute all three incidents until the Brown rice appears to brown as well or translucent also .
4. Next add 2 cups of water or chicken stock . Its will start to boil soon after and before it does you will add 1 small can of tomato sauce and season to tasty with what ever you like.
5. Cilantro chopped up can be added at this as as i press another couple garlic cloves and or after with chopped long green onion.
6. As breaks a boil reduce heat to very low and let simmer as you would the time for steam White rice about 35 to 40 minutes as brown rice takes a littel longer than conventional white rice . Also avoid peaking let it do its thing and when the time has arrived just take from the burner and just it rest until your ready to use it for your meal .

aim sure their those our there that have similar style's and their variation's and welcome in any insight that anyone has discovered GOOD LUCK AND YUM YUM EATEM UP! ;D

 

[wanderer]

I'm on day 4 of the brown rice fast, and I'm feeling great. I'm planning to do 5 days, then start the detox diet. The only downside has been excess mucus, which has interfered with sleeping and breathing excersises.