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Carbs are not just in pasta and bread…

I recently received an email from Active .com with an article about carbs athletes should be eating and found it to be interesting. Some things I already knew and others I didn’t. Fresh figs is on the list. I’m not even sure how to eat a fig or where to find them in the grocery store. The article says to cut in quarters and put low fat ricotta cheese or plain yogurt on them. But do you peel them? I will need to Google that. 🙂

Rice bran is also on the list. I have never even heard of rice bran, but it sounds like you can add it to different dishes for an added boast of carbs and fiber. I’m guessing you can find rice bran at Sprouts or Whole Foods. I’m probably going to have to try it.

I have posted the link to the article below for you to check out. If you haven’t gone to Active.com yet, you should. There is a lot of good information to be found there as well as local races.

10 Carbs Athletes Should Love

Since we are talking about the latest and greatest…a friend just told me about a drink that is supposed to keep you healthy by improving gut health with probiotics. The brand I bought is Kevita, which I found at Target in the refrigerated section. As of 06/26/16 they were on sale,  2 for $5. I think they are normally around $3 each. Each bottle is 2 servings. You can find other brands at Costco, Sprouts and I’m guessing Whole Foods. The active ingredient that makes this the “healthy” choice is kombucha.

What is kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented tea made by adding a culture of bacteria and yeast to a solution of tea, sugar and sometimes fruit juice and other flavorings. It’s often referred to as “mushroom-tea” because during the brewing process the bacteria and yeast grow into a mass that resembles a mushroom cap.

The drink has a slight effervescence and sweet-tart flavor. It often has small remnants of the bacteria mix floating in it, which sounds unappealing but is not much different from finding some sediment in your wine. Kombucha is highly acidic, contains sugar, B vitamins and antioxidants, as well as some alcohol that results from the fermentation process. It has about 30 calories per eight ounces (mainly from the sugar), which is considerably less than other soft drinks.

The bottom line

Kombucha is not a magic potion, but it is a potentially healthful, flavorful drink that is relatively low in calories and sugar. As with any food or drink, it is wise not to overdo it but to enjoy it in moderation.

Only drink homemade kombucha if you are certain it has been properly brewed, and opt for a reputable, commercial brand when buying it bottled. To be on the safe side, children, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems should drink only the pasteurized kind.

(The above information was taken from TheWashingtonPost.com. To view the entire article click on What is Kombucha? above.)

So there you have it. More foods to put on your “What I should be eating” list. And I didn’t see chips…ugh!

Thanks for reading! Stay healthy my friends, and…

Keep running! 🙂