The wonder of barley and the story of oats!!

Two foods that I find are "stunners" when it comes to fat burn!!

Thanks to a super low glycemic index, both these foods do not spike sugar levels when consumed. Spikes in sugar levels is just what you cannot afford if and only if my dear fellas your intention is "fat burn".

Spikes in sugar levels which invariably happens when you eat high glycemic foods rather killers like sugar, potato, pastries, refined flour based products, etc initiate fat storage. So control these and you sure are taking your first steps to the much desired "fat burn" arena.

Controlling high glycemic foods is one task, uphill but not impossible. Another much simpler task is to include low glycemic foods in the diet which brings us to our 2 friends for today, OATS AND BARLEY.

Oats and barley both have have low glycemic loads which means that they definitely do not promote fat storage, on the other hand, they fuel fat burn.

Another advantage is their "full feel" benefit or in other words, their satiety value. The fiber quotient in oats and barley allows it to absorb relatively more water due to which, you consume a small serving size of 40-50gms and it leaves you feeling full, not reaching out to raid the kitchen and satisfied with your ability to say "enough"!!!

I really don't want to go too deep into the nutritional profile of these products but it needs to be said that the nutritional benefits of both barley and oats are far reaching from their ability to support a healthy heart, reduce colon cancer, manage type 2 diabetes, antioxidant benefit almost equivalent to fruits and veggies; provision to serve as a wheat alternative to those who cannot sustain gluten (found in wheat)amongst many others.

The most amazing feature of this duo as i see it, is the advantage of being able to consume it in the most basic form like a simple oat-milk porridge or barley water to the most sumptuous, lip smacking flavours like a cheese barley fiesta or oat idlis/upma (with hot, mouth watering sambhar to boot!!)

Found some interesting recipes...click n check them out!!

http://vegetarian.about.com/od/maindishentreerecipes/r/cheeseybarley.htm

http://www.veginspirations.com/2008/12/instant-oats-idli.html

http://www.veginspirations.com/2008/11/savory-oats-and-barley-crepe-oats-and.html

http://www.tarladalal.com/Barley-Vegetable-Soup-(-Exotic-Diabetic-Recipe-)-33748r

http://www.tarladalal.com/Barley-and-Corn-Kachumber-3595r

http://busycooks.about.com/od/hotsouprecipes/r/Tomato-Barley-Soup.htm

Enjoy!!!

Weight Watchers....Beware!!!

Watch your fat, not your weight.

Yes it is so true that most of us get so glued in on the number that the weighing scale shows that we just don't orient ourselves to the fact that weight drops not only because of a drop in fat but a drop in muscle too!!

Weight like your age is just a number...don't dissapoint youself or your efforts only cause the weighing scale doesnt suggest a drop in weight.  Then what do i look for???

- Stop reading your efforts on the weighing scale, they could demotivate you or they could overestimate your actual fat loss.

- Look for your inches...they need to keep coming down! The changes could come in as fast as within a week.

- Watch for the fitting of your clothes. The first and last reason you could be happy when your clothes fit loose!

- Others WILL tell. People around us on't see us often as we do ourselves....that is why they see even minor changes in our boy dimensions and most people will tell the change!

- Gradual change in dress sizes when you go shopping.

- Your energy levels soar and you step lighter...you feel lighter

Finally....you weight will come down, as it is true that you cannot gain muscle as fast as you can loose fat.