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Rich Tea Biscuits

The gold standard is the Composition of foods - Mcance and Widdowson. It is my nutrient bible but it is expensive. I have it as part of an analysis package as well as the books. It is expensive and not available free on line as far as I know. Most of the data on line seems to be American and varies alot!

last year some of the Mcance tables were on the FSA website but I don't know if it is still there.
I have to say there are alot of very bad analysis sites on line!

I think the carb bible is probably the most comprehensive any way - it has been complied by dietitians where as the collins book I am not sure about!

Must be the red hair Ken - but every week I get a reference from pts about them !
 
thanks Phoenix - I was sent a link from somewhere! ages ago but as I don't need it binned it!

The books themselves are easy to use but would cost a fortune and are being updated .
 
Hi Sachin

Rich tea have always been one of my favs considering you can get fat and have a sugar rush just looking at the teatime assorted!! :-(

After a long day at work, I used to gravitate straight to the biscuit barrel, now I try to persuade myself that a Rice Cake tastes better, is bigger than a rich tea biscuit, light in the hand, munches nicely and all being well isn't going mad building fat or sugar on its way down. Bliss!
If no body is watching you can always add a little of what you fancy on it occasionally to make it that bit special.
G
 
I used to love biccys in fact I think thats probably why I gained so much weight and ended up type 2
I dont eat biscuits at all now you will live without your rich tea, I just wish I could survive without a ciggy.

regards nigel.
 
Essentially any biscuit is made from flour and sugar and is not an essential food. I keep biscuits ONLY for my grandaughter. She did stuff a small bit in my mouth a few months ago. That's the only biscuit I can remember havingin ages. I just do without them.
They are empty carbs.
Shortbread has a marginally smaller proportion of carb. 64% as opposed to 75%
If you must eat biscuits, then get some low carb ones from the spcialist low carb stores online. There are a couple and their service is good.
You can bake a nut based biscuit for yourself too. Recipes online.
 
Hi All,
(I want you to tell me its ok to eat biscuits, ok)

A rich Tea biscuit must be hi GI so produce a spike in bs. A hobnob has a medium GI rating, even though containing a few more carbs, would in fact not give one's bs such a high, being digested over a longer period?

Is there a calculation on balancing simple and complex carbs, (ie 10 high GH = 30 low GI) can I have more carbs in a day if they are low GI. And if there is, can I eat buscuits, lots of them?

Stewart
 
Hi stewcose.
Yes, of course you can eat biscuits......whether you should is another matter ?

If you look back through this topic you will see that there are many opinions on offer about consuming them. The consensus seems to be that they are a very occasional treat - no more.

Depending on your diet I don't think that any of them recommend eating biscuits any more ? If you are after tight control of Bg levels then it is carbohydrates you need to consider as they convert to glucose and will elevate your Bg levels however much sugar is in them.

Rich tea biscuits are high GI, end of story. One isn't going to hurt you, but munching your way through a packet will definitely not be good for you. Here is a calculation for working out the GL which is a much better indication as to what will happen to your Bg levels.

Glycaemic index value x no. of carbs per serving divided by 100 = Glycaemic load.

So, one rich tea @ 7.7 carbs GI approx 80(Collins GI book) 80 x 7.7 /100 = 6.16 GL which is low.
But have 10 rich tea's and the figure is 80 x 77.7 / 100 = 62.16 GL !!! High GL is considered to be anything over 20........portion size is critical if you want a biscuit or two. Personally, as stated before, one is an occasional treat.
 
I think you have put your finger on it cugila.

If you can manage to keep to just one biscuit - and make it an occassional treat (ie not every day), then biscuits are fine.

This is why I prefer the low GL idea to just GI. It takes account of portions - and if you can be disciplined over how much of something you have, there are lots of things that you can eat.
 
No biccies are truly good for diabetics. Keep them for visitors or grandchildren. For emergency carbs, I believe shortbread is as good as anything.
If you MUST have biccies, and life goes on even without them 8) , Go to one of the low carb websites and buy something suitable. the cost should keep the consumption down.
Finally
try making nut biccies at home. Ground almonds, whipped egg white and butter. Mix and bake.
Hana
 
No biccies are truly good for anyone, hanadr, diabetic or not.

Unless a fanatical low carber, the occassional planned one is an acceptable treat.

If your low carbing extends to no fruit, or even tomatoes, as I understand some believe, then clearly, a biscuit would be inexcusable!

However, I would just point out that forbidden food becomes highly desirable, human nature being what it is.
 
Hi everyone.
I was diagnosed T2 a month ago, the diabetes nurse at the GP practice said it was ok to have rich tea, digestives, hob nobs, garibaldi or fig rolls. Do they just pick these gems of information out of thin air?
Jo
 
Thanks for your comments Cugila

This seems to be really vital stuff to work with.

I'm off to a "diabetes group education session" on Wednesday. Due to reading many bloggers blogs I feel that I'm getting a better understanding of my new situation. Thus I hope to get a lot more out of the meet as a result.

On first recieving my medication for diabetes, I did ask The Doc should I not monitor my bsl. And was told the nurse will talk to you on that. Only to be told by the nurse, that their would be no point as my bs would always be at too high a level. I guess the Doc might have been too embarrassed to be quoted giving this excuse. Well, if there is only one thing I have learnt her in the last week ,it is that I NEED TO MONITOR MY BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS, SO THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS TOO HIGH.

Wish me luck.

Stewart
 
I'm afraid shaz hasn't logged in since 20 Jan 2010 so I don't suppose she will see the ideas. Nice of you to offer though Welcome to the forum by the way. Here is some information that might be useful to you:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17088#p155405
 
I made some AWESOME Almond biscuits once. Using ground almonds, butter, eggs, PEANUT BUTTER and Organic Cocoa Powder (very lo-carb).

Rolled 'em into balls, patted 'em down a liitle, and then baked 'em. They were niiiiice...
 

Followed the link and it is now archived content, with a warning that the information is old with nothing more recent than 2002.
 
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