Loving the BITE: 10-Minute Thai Shrimp Curry

26
Apr
2012

What’s the best “fuel”  for training? It’s day-in and day-out healthy eating.  It’s what I call “Daily Nutrition” (as opposed to “Training Nutrition”).  Without a foundation of nutrients that fight oxidative stress, build our immune system, contribute to heart health, and fight disease, we’d be in no shape to ride hard.  In fact, if you don’t strive for good health with health-promoting whole-foods throughout the week, I don’t believe any amount of gels, sports drink, bars, or recovery food means much on the weekend long rides.  With this in mind, let’s talk about shiitake mushrooms.

 

Recipe of the Week:   10-Minute Thai Shrimp Curry 

(from http://steamykitchen.com/12780-10-minute-thai-shrimp-curry-recipe.html – one of my new favorite food blogs)

Ingredients: 

  • 1 teaspoon cooking oil
  • 2 tablespoons red curry paste
  • 12 ounces coconut milk
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
  • 6 ounces fresh (shiitake) mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/2 pound uncooked, peeled shrimp
  • 8 fresh basil leaves (optional)
  • cooked rice, to serve

Instructions: 

Heat a skillet over medium high heat, once hot add in the cooking oil and red curry paste. Whisk for about 30 seconds. Pour in the coconut milk and continue whisking. Add in the mushrooms and the red peppers and continue cooking for 3 minutes. Add the shrimp to the curry and cook for another 2 minutes. Stir in the basil and serve over cooked rice.

Comments

It’s not for nothing that shiitake mushrooms are considered a symbol of longevity in Asia.  They promote health in some of the most crucial systems in the body.  And surprisingly, they even have important nutrients that are specifically helpful to cyclists.  Shiitake mushrooms promote:

  • A strong immune system: Interestingly, the nutrients in shiitake mushrooms help our immune systems to not over-react when strong activity isn’t needed, and react enough when an immune response is important.  They help regulate and balance healthy immune function activity.  Optimize your immune function, and you’ll ride more.
  • Reduces risk of cancer: Shiitake mushrooms help strengthen macrophage cells.  These cells are responsible for identifying and clearing potentially cancerous cells from the body.
  • Healthy Cardiovascular system: First, shiitake mushroom nutrients protect us against cardiovascular diseases by decreasing the amount of immune cells that line the blood vessels, which can potential promote plaque build-up and blockages. Then, shiitake mushrooms contain specific antioxidant minerals (manganese, selenium, and zinc) and phytonutrient antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and the oxidation of “bad cholesterol” (which allows the cholesterol to enter vessel walls and form plaques).  Thirdly, there is also some evidence that shiitake mushrooms’ polysaccharides can help lower total cholesterol levels.  Strong hearts pump blood more efficiently to cycling legs.
  • Healthy iron levels: Iron can be a tough mineral to absorb, and many athletes find themselves low on iron and chronically fatigued.  While not all vegetables sources of iron are easily absorbed, a recent preliminary study has determined that the bioavailability of iron from shiitake mushrooms is equally as bioavailable as supplemental iron in the form of ferrous gluconate. Vegetarian and meat-eating cyclists can benefit from a variety of iron sources.

The foods we eat immediately before, during, and after training are important.  But, our health depends on the foods we eat most of the time, the ones that make up your Daily Nutrition.  For these foods, look to whole foods packed with health-benefitting nutrients, like shiitake mushrooms.  Then, get out and enjoy the ride.

Fuel Your Ride.  Nourish Your Body.

 

Enjoy Your Ride

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4 Responses to “ Loving the BITE: 10-Minute Thai Shrimp Curry ”

  1. Kelli Jennings on April 27, 2012 at 7:00 pm

    Thanks for the comments!  Yes, this one’s a great recipe and I, too, am excited to use more shiitake mushrooms in my meals!  Let us know what you think…

  2. Eric on April 26, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    That looks sooooo Good!  Gotta make that.

  3. Ben on April 26, 2012 at 10:07 am

    I honestly never knew that shiitake mushrooms contained so much valuable nutrition.  I always thought that mushrooms in generally were not one of the best choices out there.  Thank you for the education this morning.

  4. Jordan on April 26, 2012 at 9:56 am

    I can always use more fuel for my riding.  This one looks interesting and I think this is the first time I’ve learned something about how a recipe can actually help me. 

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Sugar Alternatives for Energy and Hydration

Question: I am using the homebrew sugar formulations (sometimes added to green tea).  I am also trying to wean myself off 1/2 dose adrenalean “lip tonic delivery system” (biorhythm brand- caffeine, hoodia g, synephrine, yohimbe) capsule for energy.

My question is other than juice, can you suggest modifications in lieu of table sugar for energy and hydration.

Answer:

Both raw/organic honey or agave can work great in the homebrew (substitute in the same quantities for the sugar, or to taste), but you do have to shake well in order to make sure they don’t settle out.  Have you tried either of these?  Also, make sure to use at least the minimum amount of salt recommended in the homebrew as the temps rise, you need the sodium replacement if you’re sweating.

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