Is Rice Paleo What you need to know

27 Jun 2019

 Is Rice Paleo? What you need to know.

  So what is "Paleo" and why do people eat this way? Well, the paleo diet has been gaining in popularity for years now. Its name comes from the Paleolithic era or Early mankind. The idea is, our bodies were designed to eat a particular diet for optimal survival. So if we remove the processed food and go back to eating the way early man ate, our bodies would function optimally.    The Paleo diet is comprised of meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Basically, think of foods that early man could obtain by hunting and gathering. Generally, the Paleo diet limits foods that became common when farming emerged. It typically does not include dairy products, legumes, and grains.    It reasons that the human body is not genetically matched to the modern diet that was established with farming practices. Farming drastically changed what people ate and established dairy and grains as staples. Some experts believe this modern way of eating has been a contributing factor in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Eating a strict Paleo diet has indeed helped many to lose weight. Often rapidly, and the results last as long as one continues on a Paleo meal plan.    So where does rice fall in the mix? Well, traditionally people think of Paleo as a zero grain diet. Grains are gathered from farming, and would not exist among a hunting and gathering society. However, some experts are changing their mind now, and we'll explain why. First, we should clarify that there are different types of rice (obviously) and in the Paleo world, the ONLY kind of rice that is sometimes included is white.   Surprised? Most people think of brown rice as "healthy." Let's get into it. Brown rice is brown because it contains different parts, a whole rice seed contains a kernel, Bran and hull. Brown rice has the hull removed but still contains the kernel and the Bran. The Bran is the key feature here. Bran is where the nutrients (vitamins and minerals and even fiber) can be found. Unfortunately, it also contains Phytic Acid. Phytic Acid binds these nutrients and essentially makes them unavailable for your body to use. (It's like a nutrient bully.)   Back to the white rice. White rice doesn't have the Bran. So it doesn't include those healthy nutrients, but it doesn't carry the Phytic Acid either. Which helps the white rice digest in our body much more comfortably. It's also why most Paleo experts will say that white rice is acceptable. As an added bonus, rice is naturally gluten-free. So if you're eating this diet because of a gluten allergy, rice is a grain you can safely add with no stomach discomfort.    Now let's not go off the deep end. Before you belly up to the, all you can eat buffet line and start piling the rice on you should consider a few things. First, (forgive us for restating the obvious again) but rice IS a grain. Which means it falls high on the glycemic index. It IS a high-carb food. If your goal is to lose weight and or if you're diabetic, or you have high blood sugar. You might want to skip it.   However, if you're relatively healthy, have no need to lose weight, or if you're an athlete who needs to replenish their glycogen stores white rice (in moderation of course) is excellent. Many people find that since it is so cost-effective, convenient, and easy to digest, it can make an excellent addition to a well balanced Paleo Diet.     If you are new to a low carb eating lifestyle, check out what Sarefood.com has to offer. We have chef's that have specific dishes targeting a paleo diet. All our meals are prepared by professional chefs and delivered to your door. We have a variety of chefs with every expanding menus so you'll never get stuck in a rut. Changing to a lifestyle diet has a wide range of health benefits, but it can also be stressful. Let Sarefood.com help. You get all the power of making great choices, and we'll make sure it shows up on your doorstep. Put in your first order today!