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The Mayo Clinic recommends getting 45 to 65 percent of your daily calories from carbohydrates. It emphasizes complex carbohydrates, especially from whole grains and beans, and nutrient-rich fruits, and milk. A lack of carbs can cause severe constipation, gastrointestinal problems, difficulty in concentrating, loss of energy, and if you're like me, a bad mood. Picking the greenest carbohydrates is better for you and the planet.
Here are my picks for nutrient rich, green carbohydrates:
- Quinoa
Quinoa is a complete protein, great for vegetarians. Going vegetarian has the same effect on carbon dioxide emissions as switching from a Chevrolet Suburban to a Toyota Camry, according to a 2005 University of Chicago study. Compared to other grains, quinoa is higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc. It's great in stews, curries, salads, and pilafs. Serve your guests a great eco-curry just by pairing the quinoa with tons of local vegetables and your favorite curry recipe. Pick it up in the bins at your local health foods store to limit packaging. Try and find the organic variety to ensure that it wasn't treated with chemicals and pesticides.
- Sweet potatoes
According to nutritionists at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the sweet potato is ranked nutritionally number one of all the vegetables. It has almost twice the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin A, 42 percent of the recommendation for vitamin C, four times the RDA for beta carotene, and more fiber than oatmeal. Buy them in season at the farmers' market and make sure that they were grown sustainably if the farm is not certified organic. Some smaller farms avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides but because of cost and/or hassle, they have not yet been certified organic.
- Whole wheat organic pasta
I'm sure some of you super motivated cooks out there make your own pasta, but I can't say in all honesty that I do. On special occasions I've been known to whip up some pretty mean gnocchi but this is by no means an everyday occurrence. My farmers' market has a killer homemade pasta vender but I also pick it up at the grocery store. Make sure that you get the organic variety at the grocery store and again, make sure it's whole wheat. Whole wheat pasta has tons of fiber to fill you up and help your system run smoothly.
- Beans
Beans are a good source of B vitamins, fiber, and potassium. They promote digestive health, relieve constipation, and may even help prevent colon cancer and reduce blood cholesterol (a leading cause of heart disease). I like adzuki beans because they contain some of the highest levels of protein and lowest levels of fat of any variety of beans. They also contain high levels of potassium, fiber, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and manganese. They're great in soups, dips, and casseroles. Get the dried variety in the bins instead of canned and soak them before cooking.
Related Posts:
Emeril's White Beans With Onions
Living Off Grid: Cook Pasta without Pre-Heating or Pre-Boiling
Proven: Vegetarians Live Longer
Salivating over sustainable eats? Learn how to make your own with help from Emeril Lagasse in Planet Green TV's organic cooking show, Emeril Green.
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