Muscle Sport Magazine

ANTIOXIDANT PUDDING: Black Rice Pudding with Cocoa, Infused with Matcha Green Tea

By  Cara Trentadue – Need a tasty way to increase antioxidants?  I may just have it here.  This recipe was designed as a way to increase your antioxidant levels in a sweeter way.  It is very tasty and definitely worth the time it takes to prepare.  The three ingredients are incorporated and compliment each other lending an exotic rich flavor with deep hints of cocoa.  Here’s a quick note on the starring attractions.

 

1.  Green Tea ( Matcha ) – by weight this tea is richer in antioxidants than its commercially made counterparts and contains 137X more EGCG than regular green tea.  In addition, green tea

Boosts metabolism and burns calories

Enhances mood and aids in concentration

provides vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium

Fights against viruses and bacteria

Is rich in fiber

Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

Does not raise insulin levels

  1. Cocoa Powder: cocoa powder has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine, and up to three times the antioxidants found in green tea.

The ORAC score per 100 grams of unprocessed raw cacao is 28,000, compared to 18,500 for Acai Berries, 1,540 for Strawberries, and only 1,260 for raw Spinach.

Cocoa is a good source of the minerals magnesium, sulphur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, and manganese; plus some of the B Vitamins. It has a high content of the “beauty” mineral,sulfur. Sulfur helps build strong nails and hair, promotes healthy and beautiful skin, helps detoxify the liver, and supports healthy functioning of the pancreas.

Fresh cocoa beans are super-rich in the type of bioflavonoid called flavanols which are strong antioxidants that help maintain healthy blood flow and blood pressure. The heart-healthy flavanols in cocoa, especially the epicatechins, prevent fatty substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and then clogging the arteries.

Flavanols help make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes – without the negative side effects associated with the use of aspirin (ASA) and other pharmaceutical blood-thinners.

Cocoa also contains the amino acid Tryptophan which makes the neurotransmitter known asserotonin, which promotes positive feelings and helps keep us from feeling depressed. Cocoa contains the neurotransmitters dopamine, and phenylethylamine (PEA), and contains anandamideand MAO Inhibitors – which make this heart-healthy food a healthy food for the brain too.

Studies have indicated that consuming dark chocolate produced an increased sensitivity to insulin(which indicates a protective effect against diabetes).

 

BLACK RICE:  Which is really purple, is higher in anthocyanins than blueberries and is higher in fiber and vitamin E .  Black rice is highly anti-inflammatory, and is loaded with minerals usually lacking by the body.

 

So that being said, I went off into the kitchen and tinkered around until I came up with this recipe.  I am hoping you will like it .

 

 

2 cups black rice rinsed

 

4 cups almond milk

 

1tbsp macha green tea powder

 

1tbsp high quality cocoa powder

 

Coconut sugar to taste.

 

1 teaspoon high quality vanilla bean.

 

Cook the black rice in the almond milk and, vanilla bean until tender,  add more almond milk if needed for a pudding like consistency.  Add green tea powder, sugar and cocoa and stir to combine.  Serve chilled or warm.

 

As a variation you can substitute cinnamon for the cocoa or add raisins if you wish.

 

 

My name is Cara (www.carashealthyliving.com) and I have been studying nutrition  and practicing an alternative healthy lifestyle for over 20 years.  After learning how the body has the innate ability to heal itself in most cases proving you give it what it needs to do so I wanted to share this knowledge with the world.

I studied Nutrition and Weight Management Counseling at American Fitness Professionals and Associates and I am always pursuing new knowledge about healing the body and prevention of disease.   With over 20 years of practice behind me there is no argument that prevention is the easiest way to avoid sicknesses like type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.  I do not advocate “diets” I teach lifestyle change.  The children of America in this generation are said to be the only generation whose parents will outlive them.  Diet and lifestyle play a major role in this trend.  We need to turn it around.

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  1. Pingback: Providing Good Health To Your Family Through The Foods You Serve » virginiawaterman.org

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