If you enjoy crunchy low-calorie snacks, buckwheat rice cakes may become a part of your diet. For added flavor, add light toppings, such as low-fat yogurt or sugar-free jams, to these puffy creations. Compare nutrition labels among buckwheat rice cakes, because calorie and sodium information may vary by brand. People on gluten-free and diabetic diets may eat these rice cakes, although diabetics must acknowledge the carbohydrate content. Overall, buckwheat rice cakes offer health benefits to many dieters.
A Gluten-Free Food
The Colorado State University Extension explains that people with celiac disease should avoid gluten, a protein in rye, barley and wheat. Typical ingredients in buckwheat rice cakes -- white rice or whole grain rice, buckwheat, sea salt and sesame seeds -- contain no gluten. Although buckwheat and sesame seeds qualify as potential sources of nutritionally dense fiber, a buckwheat rice cake made without sesame seeds may have no measurable fiber.
Calories
A typical buckwheat rice cake contains 0 g of fat and only 40 calories or less, depending on the brand. In comparison, one slice of bread may contain 2 g of fat and 71 calories. If two rice cakes provide more satisfaction than one piece of bread, you may prefer this option for approximately the same number of calories. Note that the University of Rochester Medical Center recommends 1,200 to 2,500 calories a day for diabetic patients. In this context, the calorie count for a buckwheat rice cake seems minimal.
Sodium
The USDA in 2010 recommended restricting sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day for healthy people. If you have a risk factor such as diabetes, kidney disease or high blood pressure, further limit your intake according to your doctor's instructions. Buckwheat rice cakes qualify as low-sodium foods, generally ranging from 10.44 mg to 80 mg. Some brands offer no-sodium options.
Carbohydrates
Many diets recommend significant amounts of carbohydrate as a quick energy source. Even in diabetic diets, approximately half the calories may come from carbohydrates, including milk, fruit, starch and vegetables. The University of Rochester classifies snack portions with 15 g carbohydrates as low-carbohydrate snacks for diabetic children. With 8 g carbohydrate or less, depending upon the brand, a buckwheat rice cake definitely qualifies as low carb.
Texture
Low-calorie dieters often crave the crunchiness of candy bars and nuts, which are high-calorie options. Similarly, low-carb dieters may crave starches. These puffy buckwheat rice cakes create an illusion of substance, encouraging dieters to persevere despite the low calorie and relatively low carbohydrate content.
Member Comments