Rice and potatoes instead of white flour

Although wheat is the most widely grown cereal grain, occupying 17 percent of the total cultivated land in the world, people in many countries are dropping familiar grain for other food, such as potatoes and rice. This trend is mainly related to health, social behavior and agricultural technology.
Many runners sometimes try to avoid white flour because it makes them feel bloated (I do the same), and other people in Western countries favour  brown rice, quinoa and amaranth. Furthermore, the rise in coeliac disease and gluten intolerance shows  that wheat may be dangerous.  For this reason, peoples in developed  countries are eating other grains, such as quinoa, amaranth, millet, and sorghum, which are healthier. That's why rice production has more than doubled since 2000s around the world.

According to the FAO, rice consumption is growing faster in Africa and Europe. On the contrary, in some West Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand, rice consumption has fallen since 2000: wealthier Asians are switching to another grain.

Also in Italy it's easy to see that people, who are eating less white flour, will consume more brown rice and quinoa. Unfortunately, such healthier food, which provides carbs, is more expensive.

I always try to get carbs mainly through potatoes and rice before each running session. I have  white flour at lunch twice a week. Do you eat more rice or white flour? 

Post script: I took the picture above in the local market in my town. It has nothing to do with rice, white flour, carbs and running. It shows some types of beans: red beans, small purple, green beans, red speckled beans, white American type, long shape, ect.  The picture  is simply related to healthy food ... there weren't any beans labelled as organic production.

Leisure trip to Edinburgh

As requested by Stefano, I wrote down this post with the aim to show some pictures which I took in Edinburgh and its surrounding areas. I was there last week, four days, and visited the main part of Lothian, a region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying close to the southern shore of the Firth of Forth river. Edinburgh, located in the Midlothian area, is a clean,  functional and businesslike town, and its people is really friendly.

Edinburgh's castle was the focal point of the old Edinburgh and has been the site of some sort of fortress since Roman times. It is Edinburgh's most famous attraction, which contains the Crown jewels, the stone of destiny and the ancient dungeons.

The weather was a little bit cloudy, but not too cold. I saw a stunning view from Edinburgh's castle, and after I had left the town, I realized it is one of the best town in Europe for environment and infrastructure  ...  and there are beautiful  places to run and walk close to the town.  Perfect!

We also visited some places through Edinburgh's surrounding areas, such as  Cramond village, Rosslyn Chapel, Newhaven and Leith.

I think I will go there once again.