Part of what makes choosing the healthiest rice difficult is the many, many varieties. Last week, Padmaja asked whether a particular brand of rice that claims to be good for diabetics because it has a low Glycemic Index (GI) number is truly good. (The GI describes how quickly a food is converted into glucose or blood sugar, and how much of it. The lower the GI number, the better.) 

Here is the Basmati rice brand she asked about: http://www.amazon.com/Laxmi-Basmati-Lower-Glycemic-Diabetics/dp/B0077S75NI. 

It's too bad I don't have a good answer about this specific brand. This is because I can't find a GI number done by an independent (and thus unbiased) academic lab for this particular rice, as I can for others. 

But by looking at the various rice varieties studied by academic centers for their GI values, I am able to explain general principles that I feel will help Padmaja and also yourself make an educated decision on what rice to eat for good health. Here they are:

(Click "Read More" below.)

Recently Dr. Shalin Shah, a radiation oncologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, asked me to co-write something useful for people living with cancer on what they can eat to help their chances of living healthier. He already released the post on his Facebook blog, and after solving some technical difficulties I am posting it today. Please pass this on if you know somebody who is living with cancer, and forward Dr. Shah's Facebook blog which has useful information.

After radiation and chemo treatments are completed and there is no sign of cancer, the cancer may come back. But not all patients have the same chance of the cancer coming back.

Experts believe that patients who are overweight or obese, have high levels of chronic inflammation inside their bodies, or have elevated levels of the hormone insulin (which regulates blood sugar levels) are at an increased risk of having some forms of cancer return regardless of how advanced the cancers were to begin with.

Eating a healthy diet can definitely help maintain a healthy weight, reduce inflammation, keep insulin levels in check, and promote faster recovery after treatment. A healthy diet may even prevent many forms of cancer from returning and increase how long people live after cancer treatment.

What Should I Eat?

Click 'Read More' below to find out.