Brown Rice & Beans?

Is this a good food combination....a healthy choice for losing weight?
Do any of you eat it on a regular basis? I've never understood the
"complete protein" thing....is that the proper term? Thanks -- Sue

"William Loranger" <chiefnine@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:23026-4551FE4E-20@storefull-3336.bay.webtv.net...
> Is this a good food combination....a healthy choice for losing weight?
> Do any of you eat it on a regular basis? I've never understood the
> "complete protein" thing....is that the proper term? Thanks -- Sue

I eat beans and brown rice regularly. And lentils and brown rice. This
combination is a good source of lean protein and fiber. I used to know the
whole "complete protein" drill but science and numbers tend to go in one ear
and out the other, for me. I do know that the concept of getting a complete
protein all at once is not as important as used to be thought, because the
components necessary to complete the protein are generally hanging around in
the body anyway, if you're eating decently. And legumes with rice are a
complete, i.e., readily bio-available protein.

ep

William Loranger wrote:
> Is this a good food combination....a healthy choice for losing weight?
> Do any of you eat it on a regular basis? I've never understood the
> "complete protein" thing....is that the proper term? Thanks -- Sue

I've done a little research on the "complete protein" issue, and
apparently there was a lot of misunderstanding about it due to the book
"Diet for a Small Planet" which went into detail on how to complement
your vegetarian protein with complementary amino acids so that you get
a complete protein. Newer info says that is not true. You definitely do
not need to eat complementary proteins together. Eating them in the
same day is enough. Now if you eat egg whites or drink milk, then you
are definitely getting complete protein and a lot of it. Even if you
aren't, many argue that the protein vegetarians, even Vegans get is
typically adequate provided they eat enough calories. Unfortunately,
meat eaters seem still fixed on some idea that they need to eat meat,
milk or eggs in order to get adequate protein, but research shows
otherwise.

For rice, I like the puffed plain brown rice. It is whole grain rice
and nothing more, but very light. One cup equals 60 calories. You can
add Splenda plus some nonfat Hoods and that makes a very-low cal,
adequate protein snack or breakfast. I usually eat two cups. The same
company makes whole grain puffed wheat, too. The only other whole grain
cereals are shredded wheat and oatmeal. Everything else has other
things in there.

If you want a low-calorie but filling food, try farina. It has 120 cal.
per serving. I add Splenda and use the Smuckers sugarfree syrup on top.


Beans and rice are fine, but they aren't very low calories. Green beans
alone are excellent food. They have lots of protein and fiber and no
fat and there are only 70 cal. for an entire can....making them another
excellent choice for diet food. If your goal is to fill up with lots of
good food and low calories, that list would include oatmeal, farina,
grits, green beans, plain salads. The secret is getting high fiber,
high water content and low fat. That's why vegetarians can eat so much
and still be thin. I weigh 132 and am at the lower range of my
medically recommended weight and I follow a vegetarian diet, but eat a
LOT of food...just very little fat, no meat, and limit my cal to 2,000
per day. dkw

"William Loranger" <chiefnine@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:23026-4551FE4E-20@storefull-3336.bay.webtv.net...
> Is this a good food combination....a healthy choice for losing weight?
> Do any of you eat it on a regular basis? I've never understood the
> "complete protein" thing....is that the proper term? Thanks -- Sue
>

As part of a widely varied diet.

What many people do on diets is "starve" themselves of what they need to
keep and maintain muscle. What that means is they will lose weight, but also
muscle and it will take a longer time period to lose weight this way without
the proper protein intake.

Protein is a must because mixed with carbs and fat at each meal
it will produce the most successful outcome of fat burning.

Mix in a vegtable or fruit with beans and rice and your engine
will kick into another gear, but you have to realize that not everyone
will produce the exact same results because of metabolic type, but
this combo will give the best chance at results for everyone.


"William Loranger" <chiefnine@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:23026-4551FE4E-20@storefull-3336.bay.webtv.net...
> Is this a good food combination....a healthy choice for losing weight?
> Do any of you eat it on a regular basis? I've never understood the
> "complete protein" thing....is that the proper term? Thanks -- Sue
>

Thanks so much to each of you for your helpful, informative responses.
I learn so much from reading your posts. -- Sue