294996 Thu Nov 20 19:30:29 -0800 2003 6 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1619784 Ok most people think that rice is a carb as are beans.... but they are not. They are Incomplete Protiens, when you eat them together they become a complete protien. so is it ok to eat the 2 on the diet? Thu Nov 20 19:30:29 -0800 2003 0 FatBoy 1 1619795 Sorry, but extra credit for effort! Even if they are a complete protein together, what Atkins and the other low carb diets are aiming at is reducing the glycemic effect on the body-- rice and beans both have a high glycemic index, and so raise the blood sugar much higher and much more quickly than an animal protein or a lower-glycemic starch (wild rice and chickpeas are the lowest carb rice and beans), and set into effect the metabolic misuse of carbs that Atkins and other low carb plans try to circumvent. Whether you call it a carb or a protein or a flying purple people eater, if it's got a high glycemic index, it can have undesireable effects on your metabolism, if you're one of those for whom insulin resistance is an issue. That doesn't mean that you couldn't have beans occasionally once you're closer to your target weight-- but not at the outset when you're further away from your goal. Atkins actually has some recipes for beans-- no rice, though. Kidney beans, chickpeas, and lentils are the ones I've seen the most on low carb recipe sites-- and let us not forget the soybean and the black soybean, friend to low-carbers everywhere. Thu Nov 20 19:45:07 -0800 2003 1619784 0 EMDB (formerly Erika) 2 1619799 Actually, beans are relatively low on the GI, which is why they are allowed on a GI based diet such as South Beach Diet, but they are still high in carbohydrates, which is why they are not allowed on a carb-counting diet like Atkins. Thu Nov 20 20:02:45 -0800 2003 1619795 0 Caitlin Wheeler 1 1619796 Whether or not rice and beans together make up a "complete" protein, they still contain carbohydrates. The average serving of rice has around 80 carbs., while the average serving of beans has around 20-24 grams carbs. So, if the point of the diet you are going to try is to omit carbohydrates, I don't think you could eat beans or rice, despite their protien or other nutritional content. Rice nutrition link: http://www.mediumgrainrice.com/aboutrice/nutritionfacts.asp Beans nutrition link: Link: http://www.starofthewest.com/web/bean-nut-prof.htm Thu Nov 20 19:47:09 -0800 2003 1619784 0 DanaB 1 1619804 No - sorry. Atkins is unforgiving. And very anti-chowhound. Rice and beans are carbs and that's all there is to it. Taboo! Atkins = not a chowhound. Thu Nov 20 20:32:02 -0800 2003 1619784 0 JayJay 2 1620052 I must disagree. Chowhounds seek food that is good - which does not necessarily equal high carb. Sun Nov 23 06:00:41 -0800 2003 1619804 0 Phoebe 1 1619805 Sorry to interrupt, but topics covering nutrition and diets are most appropriate in Not About Food. Please continue these aspects of the discussion there. You might want to post a link to this thread when you start the new thread in Not About Food. Thanks! :) Thu Nov 20 20:41:23 -0800 2003 1619784 2 The Chowhound Team