Oto’sMarketplace in Sacramento is a Japanese-style food market that features some of the healthy foods mentioned on the Dr. Oz show which were repeated today and shown last year. One of those foods was shirataki noodles. Where can you buy shirataki noodles in Sacramento? They’re in some of the local supermarket’s cooler next to the tofu. Or you’ll find them in the ethnic Japanese food markets locally. See the Sacramento Japanese-style food market, Oto’sMarketplace. You also can order them online. They’re even listed on amazon.com. See, Miracle Noodle at Amazon | Amazon.com.
If you’re buying shirataki noodles at any Sacramento Japanese ethnic food markets, check out Oto’sMarketplace which has hundreds of Japanese-style foods. See, Welcome to Oto’s Marketplace. The Dr. Oz show just mentioned shirataki noodles and roasted chick peas, but research on black foods such as black quinoa, black rice, and black beans has been ongoing regarding health benefits. Incidentally, Whole Foods Market in Sacramento carries black quinoa, black beans, and black rice.
First, let’s look at the gluten-free shirataki noodles made from a high fiber food called glucomannan. Another version of shirataki noodles is made from tofu. The glucomannan form of shirataki noodles is low-carbohydrate and often used in weight management. For example you can eat three times as many bowls of shiraki noodles to equal one bowl of traditional noodles made from flour, according to the demonstration on the Dr. Oz show.
First, let’s look at some of the healthier foods from the Japanese diet: shirataki noodles. Check out the health benefits of shirataki noodles featured on the Dr. Oz show. See, Dr Oz: Shirataki Noodles & Greek Yogurt Onion Dip Recipe | Dr Oz.
The Dr. Oz show also mentioned using low-fat or zero-fat Greek-style (strained) yogurt instead of onion dip when you dip chips, crackers, or other foods (like carrot sticks or celery) into a dip. For example, you can add your favorite spices to Greek-style yogurt (the strained Mediterranean-style low-fat or no-fat yogurt that tastes something like unflavored whipped cream.) Most supermarkets in Sacramento carry the Fage brand of this type of yogurt. See, FAGE Total Greek Yogurt – FageUSA.com.
Here are some of the health benefits of shirataki noodles and roasted chick peas. See the Wikipedia site which explains what shirataki noodles are and what’s in them.
High fiber glucomannan noodles come from the root of an asian plant called konjac (full name amorphophallus konjac). It has been nicknamed elephant yam, and also called konjaku, konnyaku, or the konnyaku potato.[5]
There are two types of shirataki noodles. They supposedly are gluten-free, according to the websites describing them. Read the label ingredients to be sure and do your research to find out what’s actually in the brand you buy, if you’re sensitive to gluten. One form of shirataki noodles is made from glucomannan . The other type of shirataki noodles is made from tofu instead of white flour. That’s one type of ethnic food that’s healthy for those who benefit by the fiber in glucomannan. Or you can buy the tofu form of the shirataki noodles. You have a choice, either the noodles made with glucomannan or the noodles made with tofu.
There are two types of shirataki noodles sold in the United States. Traditional shirataki noodles have zero net carbohydrates, no food energy, and no gluten, and they are useful for those on low-carbohydrate diets.[3] Tofu-based shirataki-style noodles are becoming increasingly popular in U.S. supermarkets and health food stores. They have a much shorter shelf life and require refrigeration even before opening. Tofu-based noodles contain a minimal amount of carbohydrate.[4]
The shirataki noodles are in your supermarket probably next to the tofu in the cooler. Or you can order shirataki noodles online. See the site, Healthy Shirataki Noodles – Get Shirataki Noodles @ $1.68 each. Also see the Miracle Noodle site on dry-roast shirataki noodles. Check out the site on Konjac Shirataki Noodles. Also see House Foods America Corporation: Other Products. And for information about Shirataki noodles to read about how they are made and where to get them, also see the About.com Shirataki Site.
Roasted Chick Peas/Garbanzos: Part of a modified Mediterranean diet
The other food mentioned on the Dr. Oz show last year and repeated this morning on TV was roasted chickpeas, which are part of healthy modified Mediterranean diet. Roasted chickpeas are eaten instead of high-caolorie peanuts. Roasted chickpeas taste crispy and are often eaten in place of peanuts. For example walnuts, macadamia nuts, and almonds are health nuts as are seed such as sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds, in small amounts because of the mineral value as well as the varied omega fatty acid value of the seeds and nuts. But eating too many peanuts is not healthy as you’d overload omega 6 fatty acids when you need a balance of omega 3, 6, and 9.
So for a crunchy, crispy change, try roasted chick peas/garbanzos. You use either raw, soaked overnight or canned, drained chickpeas. Roast the chick peas in an oven for about an hour topped with drizzled olive oil and pepper, such as a pinch of cayenne pepper. Or you could spice the chick peas with garlic and curry, thyme, turkey stuffing spices, or sage and rosemary or any other spice you like, such as turmeric and garlic with a pinch of cayenne or other pepper. Serve as a snack. Interestingly, the health benefits of roasted chick peas were featured on the Dr. Oz show last year and repeated on this morning’s show (August 29, 2011). See, Roasted Chickpeas | The Dr. Oz Show.
There’s also Indian-style roasted chick peas. See, Roasted Chickpeas Recipe – Allrecipes.com. To roast chick peas (also known as garbanzo beans), first you preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Drain the can or cup of chick peas so they’re not wet from the can or soaking overnight.
Then put the chick peas in a bowl and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Season with garlic and cayenne or any other spices you like, for example curry and turmeric or thyme and sage, or rosemary and pepper. Choose the spice that you like. Some people like the spices used in turkey/poultry stuffing. If you’re using canned chick peas, they usually have so much salt, you don’t need to add more salt. Spices would be better. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until brown and crunchy. Don’t burn the chick peas. Keep watching them at least for the last 10 minutes of baking.
Black Quinoa
You can add one more healthy food: black quinoa, eaten in Bolivia for generations, for the black colored anthocynanins in the grain. Here’s a healthy diet combination of three different ethnic foods: Black quinoa, roasted chick peas, and shirataki noodles. If you’re serving black quinoa with the roasted chick peas, rinse well and soak the black quinoa in water in a covered jar overnight. Then rinse again and boil the quinoa in water until it’s soft and chewy. You cook it just as you’d cook brown rice. For example, put a cup of black quinoa in a pot or pan an add 2 cups of water or any other liquid, such as vegetable broth or chicken broth.
Then boil or simmer the black quinoa (same as you’d cook black rice). When the water or other liquid is absorbed, serve warm in a bowl. You can top the quinoa with a tablespoon of sauerkraut (fermented cabbage). Other grains you can cook in this manner include black or brown rice, barley, and whole oat groats. For those who can’t eat grains, you can serve the noodles with other vegetables, and for those anthocyanins: black beans, or squid in squid ink.
