Rice Cakes - Are They Really Good For Diet?

Rice cakes became popular with the advent of low-fat diet. In fact, some people are fanatical about their rice cakes, snacking on them constantly because "they do not contain fat, so they are healthy!" As a snack, but they may not be the best choice.

Let's look at the label. An average rice cakes have:
Calories: 35
Total fat: 0.3 gm
Cholesterol: 0
Sodium: 29
Carbohydrates: 7.3 gm
Fiber: 0.4 gm
Sugar: 0.1 gm
Protein: 0.7 gm

OK, so they are low in calories and have less fat. But they also have a very little bit of fiber and protein. So what's left?

Carbohydrate
Now there is nothing wrong with carbohydrates in the right setting. But here we have the carbs without fat, very little fiber and very little protein.

Without protein, fat or fiber, carbohydrates are easily digested and converted to blood glucose very quickly. This is called the glycemic effect, and indeed, ordinary rice cake is a type of grain that rank high on the glycemic index. What a rice cake, basically, is the food that will give you a jolt of sugar!

As a snack, this is a bad choice, not only for people trying to lose weight, but for people whose goal is to eat in a healthy way. By continuously supplying blood sugar, insulin will be produced in excess. Blood sugar levels are increased, then dropped suddenly due to excess insulin, and this can create more hunger. So you want to eat rice cakes others.

Indeed, there is a lot of calories, but really, would not it be better to choose a snack with materials that are more nutritious? Even if it is more calories, such as a piece of fruit will provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. Because of the fiber, it will be digested more slowly and do not spike blood sugar quickly, so it will be more satisfactory.

Or, I even dare to say, eat a snack that contains protein and fat (the good kind of fat) as a handful of nuts?

Snacking is not bad. Some experts suggest that eating three smaller meals and two snacks daily is a good way to provide optimal nutrition, but only if we choose wisely. Eating is about feeding our bodies what they need to thrive. Choosing nutritious snacks empty is a lost opportunity. An apple versus rice cakes such as vitamin supplements than sugar pills.