Go ahead and devour your tuna and brown rice dinner. Just avoid eating the same dinner every night. Even though these foods are extremely nutritious, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Foods that are rich in nutrients may also be rich in unwelcome amounts of chemicals, and consuming an excessive amount of such foods can be detrimental to your health.
- It is also important to incorporate variety into your meals and snacks to ensure that you receive the proper balance of nutrients.
- Here are some nutrient-dense foods you should consume, provided you don’t overdo it.
- We’ve been told for years to consume less white rice and more brown rice with whole grains.
And despite the fact that this recommendation will provide you with more fiber, vitamins, and minerals, it comes with a price: arsenic. We’re not talking about toxic levels in a single serving or anything scary like that, but it’s not a good idea to consume rice several times per day (every day).
Arsenic exposure is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. Rice absorbs more arsenic from the soil than most other grains, and brown rice contains 80% more arsenic than white rice. Arsenic accumulates in the outer layers of the grain, which are removed to create white rice.
And it makes no difference whether the rice was grown organically; all rice can contain arsenic. Instead: Enjoy brown rice as one of many whole grains in your weekly meal plans, but not every day. Replace it with grains that are low in arsenic, such as quinoa, barley, buckwheat, and millet.
These large seeds are loaded with selenium, an antioxidant mineral. Just one nut contains your daily dose. The difficulty? A toxic level of selenium can result in hair and nail loss, diarrhea, skin rashes, mottled teeth, and abnormalities of the nervous system. Because of this, almonds, pecans, and walnuts are typically sold in separate bulk containers, whereas Brazil nuts are typically not.
Instead: Keep to mixed nuts. Grab a handful and consume a variety of nuts, but don’t single out Brazil nuts and consume only a dozen of them. A scoop of tuna is a convenient sandwich option, and sushi lovers frequently consume raw tuna. In fact, canned tuna is the second-most consumed seafood in the United States after shrimp, which is great because it is a lean source of protein and rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fats.
- The problem is that albacore tuna (the second most consumed type, after skipjack) is a very large fish that spends a great deal of time in mercury-contaminated waters.
- If you consume an excessive amount of tuna per week, methylmercury can accumulate in your body and interfere with the brain and nervous system.
Mercury toxicity can result in memory loss, vision loss, and difficulties controlling blood pressure. Because mercury affects the development of a child’s brain and nervous system, children, women of childbearing age, and women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid consuming excessive amounts.
This population should consume albacore tuna no more than once per week. Instead: Skipjack and yellowfin tuna contain significantly less mercury than albacore and bigeye tuna. Look for “light” instead of “white” fish when purchasing canned tuna, and choose yellowfin over bigeye for sushi and sashimi. “Ahi” may refer to yellowfin or bigeye tuna, so sushi enthusiasts should inquire about the species they’re ordering.
If you sprinkle a small amount of cinnamon on your oatmeal or chai tea latte, there is no cause for concern. It imparts a delicious flavor. Some research has shown that cinnamon may help lower blood sugar — at doses of a teaspoon or more per day. The trouble is that grocery store cinnamon, a spice known as cassia cinnamon, contains a compound called coumarin, which has been linked to an increased risk of liver disease when consumed in excess (more than a teaspoon per day) (more than a teaspoon per day).
Instead, if your doctor has given you permission to try the cinnamon treatment for Type 2 diabetes, you should purchase true Ceylon cinnamon from a health food store. The Ceylon variety is lighter in color and flavor compared with cassia, and has about 60 times less coumarin — but is still effective at lowering blood sugar levels when used in high doses.
Coffee is filled with beneficial antioxidants and can certainly help with alertness, so go ahead and start your day with a java jolt. But keep in mind that the average eight-ounce cup of coffee contains about 100 to 150 mg of caffeine, and it’s best to stay within 400 mg of caffeine per day (so, about three or four eight-ounce cups of coffee) (so, about three or four eight-ounce cups of coffee).
- After that point, you may experience symptoms such as jitteriness, rapid heartbeat, and insomnia, and coffee acts as a diuretic at high doses.
- And remember, if you order an extra-large coffee (24 ounces), it counts as three cups of coffee.
- Instead: If you still need a caffeine bump after you’ve had two or three cups of coffee, opt for a cup of black or green tea, which has just 30 to 50 mg of caffeine per cup.
Cara Rosenbloom, a registered dietitian, is the president of Words to Eat By, a nutrition communications firm that specializes in writing, nutrition education, and recipe development. She co-authored Nourish: Whole Food Recipes Featuring Seeds, Nuts, and Beans.
How much brown rice should an individual consume daily?
The quantity of brown rice you should consume depends on your calorie needs and food preferences. In general, one can consume one to three cups of rice per day. Brown rice is a member of the grain family. Depending on your caloric and nutritional needs, the amount of grains you need varies.
- If your daily calorie intake is limited to 1,200, you only need 4 ounces of grains.
- A person consuming 2,000 calories per day must consume 6 ounces of grains.
- Each day, a very active person who consumes 2,600 calories can consume 9 ounces of grains.
- According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, at least 50 percent of your daily grain allowance should consist of whole grains.
If you determine that you should eat 4 ounces of grains a day, a 1/2 cup serving of cooked brown rice equates to 1 ounce of grains.
Women seeking to lose weight should consume approximately 37 grams of rice per serving.
What is an appropriate portion size of cooked brown rice?
According to the USDA, healthy adults require approximately 3 to 6 ounce equivalents of whole grains per day. A typical serving (or 1 ounce equivalent) of cooked brown rice corresponds to approximately 12 cup or 1 ounce dry. According to the USDA, here is the nutritional breakdown of a half-cup serving of cooked medium-grain brown rice: