Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Eat Less Rice! Why?

The human body was never meant to consume rice! You see, our genes have hardly changed in more than 30,000 years. However, our food choices and lifestyle have changed dramatically. The caveman would hardly recognise our food or way of life.

Caveman food was never cooked as fire was not yet tamed. Thus, he ate only those foods that you can eat without treatment with or by fire. He ate fruits, vegetables, fish (sushi anyone?), eggs, nuts and meat. Yes, even meat! You can even eat meat raw if you were starving in the forest. You have the necessary enzymes to digest meat.

However, rice, like wheat and corn, cannot be eaten raw. It must be cooked. Even if you were starving in the desert, you cannot eat rice in the raw form.. This is because we do not have the system of enzymes to break rice down. You were never meant to eat rice. To make matters worse, you not only eat rice, but also make it the bulk of your food.

In some parts of Asia , rice forms up to 85% of the plate. Even if you take rice, keep it to a minimum. Remember, it is only for your tongue - not your body. Actually, rice and other grains like wheat and corn are actually worse than sugar. There are many reasons:

  • Rice becomes sugar - lots of it!
This is a fact that no nutritionist can deny: rice is chemically no different from sugar. One bowl of cooked rice is the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This does not matter whether it is white, brown or herbal rice. Brown rice is richer in fibre, some B vitamins and minerals but it is still the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. To get the same 10 teaspoons of sugar, you need to consume lots of kangkong-10 bowls of it. 


  • Rice is digested to become sugar. 
Rice cannot be digested before it is thoroughly cooked. However, when thoroughly cooked, it becomes sugar and spikes circulating blood sugar within half an hour-almost as quickly as it would if you took a sugar candy. Rice is very low in the 'rainbow of anti-oxidants. ' This complete anti-oxidant rainbow is necessary for the effective and safe utilisation of sugar. Fruits come with a sugar called fructose. However, they are not empty calories as the fruit is packed with a whole host of other nutrients that help its proper assimilation and digestion.

  • Rice has no fibre.
The fibre of the kangkong fills you up long before your blood sugar spikes. This is because the fibre bulks and fills up your stomach. Since white rice has no fibre, you end up eating lots of 'calorie dense' food before you get filled up. Brown rice has more fibre but still the same amount of sugar.

  • Rice is tasteless-sugar is sweet.
There is only so much that you can eat at one sitting. How many teaspoons of sugar can you eat before you feel like throwing up? Could you imagine eating 10 teaspoons of sugar in one seating?

  • Rice is always the main part of the meal.
While sugar may fill your dessert or sweeten your coffee, it will never be the main part of any meal. You could eat maybe two to three teaspoons of sugar at one meal. However, you could easily eat the equal value of two to three bowls (20-30 teaspoons) of sugar in one meal. I am always amused when I see someone eat sometimes five bowls of rice (equals 50 teaspoons of sugar) and then asks for tea tarik kurang manis!


  • There is no real 'built in' mechanism for us to prevent overeating of rice:
How much kangkong can you eat?
How much fried chicken can you eat?
How much steamed fish can you eat?
Think about that!

In one seating, you cannot take lots of chicken, fish or cucumber, but you can take lots of rice. Eating rice causes you to eat more salt. As rice is tasteless, you tend to consume more salt-another villain when it comes to high blood pressure. You tend to take more curry that has salt to help flavor rice. We also tend to consume more ketchup and soy sauce which are also rich in salt.


  • Eating rice causes you to drink less water.
The more rice you eat, the less water you will drink as there is no mechanism to prevent the overeating of rice. Rice, wheat and corn come hidden in our daily food. As rice is tasteless, it tends to end up in other foods that substitute rice like rice flour, noodles and bread. We tend to eat the hidden forms which still get digested into sugar.


  • Rice, even when cooked, is difficult to digest.
Can't eat raw rice? Try eating rice half cooked. Contrary to popular belief, rice is very difficult to digest. It is 'heavy stuff'. If you have problems with digestion, try skipping rice for a few days. You will be amazed at how the problem will just go away.


  • Rice prevents the absorption of several vitamins and minerals.
Rice when taken in bulk will reduce the absorption of vital nutrients like zinc, iron and the B vitamins.

Are you a rice addict? Going rice-less may not be easy but you can go rice-less. Eating less rice could be lot easier than you think. Here are some strategies that you can pursue in your quest to eat less rice:



  • Eat less rice-cut your rice by half.
Barry Sears, author of the Zone Diet, advises 'eating rice like spice'. Instead, increase your fruits and vegetables. Take more lean meats and fish. You can even take more eggs and nuts.


  • Have 'riceless' meals.
Take no rice or wheat at say, breakfast. Go for eggs instead.


  • Go on 'riceless' days.
Go 'western' once a week.


  • Take no rice and breads for one day every week.
That can't be too difficult. Appreciate the richness of your food. Go for taste, colours and smells. Make eating a culinary delight. Enjoy your food in the original flavours.


  • Avoid the salt shaker or ketchup.
You will automatically eat less rice.


  • Eat your fruit dessert before (Yes! No printing error) your meals.
The fibre rich fruits will 'bulk up' in your stomach. Thus, you will eat less rice and more fruits.
 
It's your life. Decide what you want to eat! But eat less rice!

"JOM Seiring Sejalan"
"If you focus on results, you will never change.If you focus on change, you will get results"

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Shayk Al Qaradawi's Poem

 
Shayk Al Qaradawi's Poem:

"Oh My nation, the struggle has become obligatory, so put aside chattering and screaming. Put aside dallying. He who dallies and rests is of no help. Put aside all pretence, since massacres and wounds have said their word.The Missionaries of Peace are lying, for there is neither peace nor pardon.Weeping over the ruins of our camp is no longer of avail, nor crying.We should no longer speak with words; rather let the spears have their say

* * *

Oh men, the matter is grave. The time for jesting has passed. Call things by their real names, for it is men's way to be frank.The veil has fallen from the face, and their secret workings are revealed. The Crusaders have returned once more, and they move about in the [Iraqi] lowlands.They spread perversion in the land, as though it were ground free for all to graze in. They are again spilling blood, without shame of exposure. And the Shi'ites play well the role assigned to them. The treacherous role, whose beginning and end are known to all. They returned when in the East there is no Nur al-Din in power, or Salah [Al-Din]. [4] We have forgotten the past, but they have now scratched the scabs. They did not recoil from slaughtering old men … or small girls. Their hate is not slaked by the blood they spill with such arrogance and impudence. They gleefully abuse the victims' corpses, and violate the honor of women, fearing no retribution or punishment. There is no Mu'tasim [5] to succor those who cry for help. Don't you see how conspiracies against Islam are hatched openly in the light of day? Don't you see how the land of the prophets suffers from wounds? Don't you see how the Jews commit outrages, while we excel in crying out? They violated our Palestine, and declared that they will not leave it. They heed not the censure of U.N. resolutions, nor any proposal…Were it not for the firmness of young men, unwilling to part with their religion, Young men who offer up their blood – and he who offers up his blood is blameless.

* * *

Apostasy has become blatant, having no fear of exposure. In the marketplace of hypocrisy plain falsehood is being peddled Moral depravity is sold there under the name of art and openness Perversion prevails arrogantly and openly day and night…

* * *

Oh Islamic nation, rise up and act! For there is no time to be lost. Heresy has gathered its forces. Why are we frightened and fighting one another? Assemble, and equip yourself as you can with that which is at hand. Oh thousand million [Muslims], where are you when the wounds call out? Bring one million from the billion, the select of the select. One from every thousand, and with them we shall make war on all fronts…

* * *

There is no escape from producing men, this is like the making of arms. The making of heroes is a science that was made clear in out tradition. Heroes can only be made in our mosques, in the garden of the Koran, and in the shade of the true Prophetic traditions. In the company of the righteous, who walk in Allah's abode. Those who guide by example, rather than by eloquence… Those who betray the call to prayer, betray as well the call to struggle. Oh my Islamic nation, stand fast, for night will soon give way to morning…"

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[1] Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar), January 16, 2005.
[2] www.qaradawi.net, January 5, 2005.
[3] In a Friday sermon broadcast on Qatar TV on January 14, 2005, Al-Qaradhawi said: "Allah, help the
fighters of Jihad in spirit and assist them with your many soldiers… Allah, [harm] your enemies, the
enemies of Islam. Allah, [harm] the treacherous and aggressive Jews. Allah, [harm] their oppressive and
patronizing allies. Allah, [harm] all the enemies of Islam and of the Muslims…"
[4] Nur Al-Din Al-Zengi (1146-1174), head of the Zengid confederation, who initiated a Jihad against the
Crusaders, and Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi (1169-1193), conqueror of Jerusalem.
[5] Al-Mu'tasim, an Abbasid caliph (833-842), who in 838 defeated the Byzantine army and conquered the
fortified city of Amorium.