often duplicitously as whole grians), and most of the grains we actually consume are in the form of junk cereals frequtnly marketed as healthy while being anything but.That said, I make a big exception of oatmeal, quinoa, and amaranth. Oatmeal is a high-fiber food that also contains protein, and its very low glycemic load ensures that it wont play havoc with your blood sugar and cause your energy to crash a half hour after you eat it. Its a great, energy-boosting breakfast bodybuilders have combined oatmeal with eggs for years.To this day, you cant walk through Golds Gym in Venice, California (known as the Mecca for serious bodybuilders), which tripping over at least ten huge guys (and an equal number of Ms. Fitness types) eating a homemade mixture of oats and eggs out of the resealable containers they frequently bring with them to the gym. (And considering that most of these men and women do four-hour workouts, its reasonable to assume that they know something about energy!)One try of the eggs and oatmeal mix and youll see why. Throw some raisins on and season with cinnamon, which helps modulate blood sugar. The key to the whole thing is using real, slow cooking oatmeal. The parboiled, precooked kind does nothing for your.One warning: More people than anyone would guess are gluten-sensitive, which means they dont react really well to a protein in grains called gluten, or a substrate of gluten called gliadin. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, and, to some extent, oats. If youre a gluten-sensitive person, these grains can make you tired and bloated, and you might have to pass on the oatmeal, great food that it is. If youre not gluten-sensitive, its a great energy food.ANCIENT GRAINS FOR MODERN ENERGY Quinoa, on the other hand, looks like a grain, cooks like a grain, and tastes like a grain, but is actually a seed. Who cares? Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) has the highest protein of any cereal, and its gluten-free to boot. Its a great energy food either as a breakfast or as a snack.Legend has it that the Incan armies marched for days at a time fueled by a mixture of quinoa and fat known as war balls. Nuff said. 9If it could get the Incan armies through their day, it should be able to do the same for you). Quinoa also contains a fair amount of iron, not to mention 5 grams of fiber per cup.Finally, theres amaranth. This grain has been around for 8,000 years and was a staple of the Aztecs. As cereals go, its pretty high in protein and fiber, both of which are energy-sustaining ingredients that are in surprisingly short supply in most breakfast cereals. The protein in the amaranth grain is of an usually high quality, and its high in an essential amino acid called Iysine, which is lacking in most grains. And amaranth is completely gluten free. It usually comes in the form of cereal.
