Doctor, is Couscous a Grain? Is Couscous similar to Quinoa or Brown Rice? Is it a Healthy Choice?

[@me_me839]

In morocco we also have corn couscous , weat and other grain made types , also we have sizes in the grains .. in my region we don't buy it we have land so we harvest our grains and clean them then take it to the local village to a place where you mill and grind it .. the machine separate semolina and flour ... also semolina we can make it small grains for cakes and bread or medium and big grains for couscous ... it's not just a simple dish .. and also for the ingredients and recipe it Changes from a region to another .. but in general: Moroccan couscous has many spices and flavors and the broth's color is a bit orange or red since we use turmeric and other spices (like ras elhanout a Moroccan mix of spices), we like the mix of sweet and salt so we can add caramelized onions and raisins beside more vegetables ( pumpkin , carrots , potatoes , zucchini , turnip , onions ، chickpeas, cabbage, hot pepper...) and the meat we can use chicken or beef or lamb or fish. Algerian couscous has very less spices (little bit black pepper and cinnamon) the broth is more of white color and for vegetables they use zucchini and turnip and chickpeas and for the meat mostly chicken or beef or lamb. Tunisian couscous is mostly made with red broth since they use tomatoes and a paste of hot red chilly (harissa) .. and it's mostly made with fish. Mauritanian couscous it's the same recipe used in Moroccan Sahara with five types of semoulina mixed and a green powder is added from a desert plant , and is mostly made from lamb or camel or beef.

[@101theobserver]

As a Moroccan eating couscous once a week I agree with you it is processed but we only eat it once a week on Fridays with a lot of vegetables and we are super excited about that .moderation is the key .

[@mostwardi4389]

تا سير تقود، هو تيدافع عل الريسطو ديالو والمنتوج ديالو ونتوم هاد بوخنونات لي كتاريتو عندنا فالبلاد وتتسناو غا فين تبانو زوينين، عند القح.بة مكوم عقة الزوين وغا لي دوا تبعوه. اش تيتبروسيسا فكسكو، لقمح مبخر عوض طيبو فالما بحال الروز تتبخرو وتتشمشو باش تيبقا مدة طويلة ...كتاريتو يا لمخنيين ...

[@HermanKautzer-o9d]

The norm must be in everything

[@felipefreitas3942]

in northern Brazil (amazon) we eat a sweet version of couscous, made from corn

[@bharatkapadia4550]

Your opinion stand above the chaos of false information. Your message is crystal clear, to choose natural grain over food made in factory. Keep doing it doctor, we love your unbiased work. Thank you.

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

thanks for your encouraging words. glad you found it useful. Blessings, Dr Chan

[@trying2getit580]

I am literally in my kitchen trying to decide what's better (quinoa or couscous). I just found out a few days ago that I have pre-hypertension and am changing my eating and lifestyle. Thanks.

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

that's funny :-). Wonder which did you choose? 🤔

[@trying2getit580]

@@TheHabitsDoctor Quinoa

[@hamza-trabelsi]

you can do both , Because each has it's own taste. some variety would keep your meal more interesting

[@thepandadan]

Quinoa is healthier but more rich and nutty flavor

[@ptitanneptitanne6438]

Buttermilk is good for low blood pressure…just read it this morning

[@amelrodriguez7716]

From ALGERIA 🇩🇿, COUSOUS is wheat and in my country is a classic food. Very healthy.

[@趙守法-j5e]

Salam, habibi. I am in your neighbor country and couscous is also eaten here. It's a simbol of Amazigh culture.

[@TheresaLockwood]

I have just recently found you and watched several of your videos and it is a definite plus that you are both a medical doctor and a chef. Not many doctors have much knowledge about the food. Though they may to some degree. This is why many are referred to a nutritionist. I am very very pleased that you are taking the time to inform people of the information you know about heart disease and diabetes. I am researching much of it for someone else who was diagnosed with diabetes. I figured I look up and double check about couscous and found that you even did a video on that. I am glad you did, yet really disappointed that people are making many videos about couscous and it being good for diabetics as I just made a meal last night (err this morning) with couscous. I tried to find many articles and videos for good recipes for diabetics. It is a challenge. It is sad that I found that many have passed couscous off as a whole grain. I questioned it again because it was white and made like white rice or a pasta. I'm glad I did double question it and continued to search. But there are tons of articles and videos relating to diabetes giving the "ok" for couscous.

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

I'm glad that you found my videos useful. Most of the topics of my videos, including this video on couscous, are based on the questions, misconceptions and challenges that I saw my patients and coachees frequently encounter in their lifestyle/dietary habits change journeys. My youtube journey, since I started a year ago, has been v tough, but it is feedback and comments like yours that encourage and keep me going, thanks v v much. Blessings, Doc

[@veganvocalist4782]

@@TheHabitsDoctor I wish you well on this wonderful journey

[@kimofrosty]

I don't how about other countries but here couscous is traditionnaly prepared with whole weat, which is what we call couscous, and the processed wheat variant is called Smida in Morocco

[@Nhoirmore]

Thank you so much for this - I feel the passion and wisdom in your voice!

[@aleafox1675]

I'm so happy I found your channel. I had never heard of couscous until recently, so I tried it and I liked it, but I didn't really know what it was. I only eat pasta on rare occasions, and just like you stated in your video, I'm one of those who thought couscous was a whole grain. LOL So your now my new nutritional KZbin Dr. :)

[@mostwardi4389]

he lies, it's not a pasta, it simolina coocked with steam unstead of water. he just advertise his product.

[@chawquee]

3000 YEARS IN MY COUNTRY TUNISIA AKA CARTHAGE WE SUPPLY HARD WHEAT SEMOLINA WHICH IS COUSCOUS AND THE GUY IGNORES THAT COUSCOUS IS NOT A FLOWER BUT WHEAT BROKEN TO SEMOLINE WHICH IS MIXED WITH WATER THAT IS NO PROCESS WE WERE THEBASKETFOOD FORTHE WHOLE ROMAN EMPIRE MY DEAR AS PER QUINOA AND THIS STRANGE CHINEESE STAPPLES WHO FOR SURE ARE NOT ORGANIC ARE JOKE EAT COUSCOUS THE REAL ONE MADE IN NORTH AFRICA THE REST ARE FLORS AND IMMITATION AND YOU WILL BE GOOD PEOPLE EAT THEM FOR 3000 YEARS ARE FITAND STRONG this health fake prpaganda are meremarketing couscous is a part of the meditranean cuisine which is the best and most healthy we use only olive oil and couscous we do not eat like that onl grain is mixed with veggies and sauce and any meat u want

[@gnzeu4tpns91]

Great video doc! Just started my research about eating more healthy. This channel is a great help!

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

Thanks for dropping by my channel and taking time to leave encouraging comments. Much appreciated. Blessings, Doc

[@50hellkat2]

Here is a story about Quinoa for you. It has very very high levels of saponin which they coat it with so the birds will not eat it. It is not healthy to eat and is responsible for bitter taste and this is why they recommend you soak the saponin out of it. Soaking it does work I guess. I soaked quinoa well and dried it and tried to feed it to birds and no bird will touch it. I resoaked another batch and dried it and attempted to feed it to birds that are known to eat it and they would not touch it nor would squirells etc. This tells me that you may be able to soak the bitter out of the saponin but you cannot soak the saponin out. Saponin is very unhealthy for your gut. I encourage you to try this experiment.....i feel i am correct in my conclusion. Also read up on Saponin. It is responsible for the soapy bubbles that come from cans of beans or soaking beans. Many people feel the beans are what is causing them GI problems and it is mostly the saponin.

[@Anna.GG.]

Thanks for this interesting comment about saponin. I’m going to research this matter. I am most grateful, thank you @50hellkat2

[@hilariadelossantos4030]

Thanks for the information, I appreciate it.

[@greentea_]

Thanks doc for the informative content. what about compared with rice? Is couscous generally worse or in the same boat?

[@sedeqaalaffi8204]

Very helpful , thank you!!

[@karenleigh3915]

Thank you. Well explained and helpful information.

[@TheSaraManal]

People sometimes confuse Couscous & Bulgur Some refer to bulgur as couscous & there are some cases of bad translations in cross-cultural dishes

[@richardwallace6313]

really? where? never seen those two confused before, though bulgur often does come from durum wheat, in which case that form of bulgur and whole wheat couscous would indeed be pretty similar. the vast majority of couscous is not whole grain, however.

[@monaturals9315]

Thank you for this video. This was helpful!

[@ASJkenan0]

There's whole grains Couscous, can you rate them? they are available from organic suppliers like Markal and Vive Bio

[@annad5130]

I bought couscous today because I thought it was healthy. 😂 oh well, I’ll mix it with the quinoa I bought. I should have known it was too yummy to be good for you, although I’m sure it’s not the worse thing

[@veganvocalist4782]

;D I love that you were a chef , thank you for this valuable information . I have learnt so much since leaving school and college because of wonderful channels like this

[@50hellkat2]

Saponin levels in couscous are very difficult to find. Do you know? Should we be soaking it before cooking it?

[@chaitanyabhardwaj6371]

Well explained! Keep it up!

[@teeblog2396]

I am glad I have found your channel. Excellent knowledge that helps with my diet and health!

[@chawquee]

he do know nothing about couscous he is trying to sell you chinneese products wake up no health nothing as per couscous it is not a flour it a ehole grain of the hard wheat that have yellow olor and it is not the regular white soft wheat and it is better and mor ehealthy used for 3000 years we do not need a chinese to teach us which is healthy we are meditranean the better healthy food on earth and we use olive oil not the car motor grade asian oils who kills with time MARKETING

[@est4574]

Dr Chan, Almond flour bread can eat for type 2 diabetes patient?

[@mariepierremont3233]

Thank you Dr.Chan, I like your accent. You have an entire restaurant? I would definitely eat there.

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

I was running my 40 seater restaurant from 2014 to 2019. It was tough, juggling my time working as the head chef there as well as my other work as a doctor. I do miss the interactions and conversations with customers as well as working in the kitchen to create interesting dishes to entice and encourage people to improve their eating habits for health.

[@daniellebarker7667]

How do you feel about bulgur wheat?

[@soundboy605]

Thank you DR!

[@lociworld]

Thank u for ur video. I was curious whether couscous is good for my health

[@satwindersingh6581]

Thnx - informed discussion.

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

You are welcome. Blessings

[@maxsanemitchell1609]

Very informative.

[@chawquee]

as a Tunisia aka Carthage the land of semolina and ex Rome basket food and from comes couscous the guy is selling you asian products who are not organic and we will never eat them becasue they fool people as per couscous search about the midetranean cuisine andcomparewho is healthy motor car grade oils used in asian cuisine or the king of all oils OLİVE OIL ...it ıs a whole cuisine and couscous is a part of it . asian rices made people diabetes they are played wit genetically all what asia produce of food is played with just to feed their billion of people in the meditranean sea we do not do that and keep it trraditional as were before thats why the best food is around the med sea

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

Glad you found it useful. Blessings, Dr Chan

[@surinderkaur1800]

What is quina&its gi.

[@tvtv4745]

Brown Rice is high in arsenic, so cannot be eaten on a regular basis.. Nowadays, wholegrain Couscous is available in the market which would be actually considered a grain and in fact healthier and easier to cook than other grain products you mentioned..

[@BrainGiggles]

Awesome that you’re a chef but also an MD! Wonderful concept for a channel! I just subscribed! Cheers!

[@ThaoLe-bj6jn]

Please tell me benefit about What is about Millet ? Thanks

[@noramohan5835]

Yes Doctor , great information thanks .

[@Jt2REAL1]

I picked up couscous because it said it had no cholesterol and I’m needing to lower mine. Any thoughts concerning this?

[@ivanelageorgieva9866]

No grain has cholesterol, better go to an endocrinologist or cardiologist to find out why you have dyslipidemia.

[@ramyagajanayake6517]

Pl, publish a diet plan for patients suffering from C.K.D

[@mayda2060]

We eat it one time in a week.. not dangerous

[@chazeenslifejourney]

Is Bulga a healthier choice than quinoa or brown rice

[@perulv4090]

Sweet vid, preventative medicine needs more love!

[@chloe-rz9xk]

Thank you doctor for making such good quality informative and amazing videos🥰🥰🙌🏻 Keep going!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻Jiayous

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

Thank you for making the effort to encourage me, much appreciated. 我会继续加油的。

[@deliamariemichael8716]

Hi Dr, I’m very fond of couscous and enjoy putting together a lot of ingredients, however my thought is for my sister whose diabetes is not well controlled can you please advise what regime can she follow, her dr have started with lantus u for 3x a day. Any suggestion

[@RubenWhitter]

Omg I had zero idea that couscous was basically little wheat balls!

[@reeteshhurkhoo9231]

Since I started eating quinoa everyday i'm having some kind of constipation. What do you recommend?

[@iblessyou.forextrablessing7597]

I found cous cous digestible small portion less chewing. I just a box

[@suzanettephilostin7628]

Thank you 👍👍👍

[@chocolatechick729]

Thank you this helped a lot .

[@Zion-yl9mo]

What other whole grains you had on your menu?

[@aquasm555]

What do you mean by processed food, whats your definition of it. Whatever is your choice why put Couscous in such a category, please explain

[@Janne-k-]

Good info, well explained, short and precise. Thank you 👍🏻

[@chawquee]

he do know nothing about couscous he is trying to sell you chinneese products wake up no health nothing as per couscous it is not a flour it a ehole grain of the hard wheat that have yellow olor and it is not the regular white soft wheat and it is better and mor ehealthy used for 3000 years we do not need a chinese to teach us which is healthy we are meditranean the better healthy food on earth and we use olive oil not the car motor grade asian oils who kills with time MARKETING

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

😊thanks for sharing 😊

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

Glad you found it useful. Blessings, Dr Chan

[@carolferguson]

Thank you very much!

[@briantan2963]

The word "Healthy" is very subjective. Fruits are healthy, but too much fruits = too much sugar, also becomes unhealthy. Especially fructose, which goes directly to the liver. Many friends think that because fruits are healthy, they eat a lot, juicing and even replacing proper food group portioning in their meals.

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

'Healthy' should never be subjective, but should be 'Specific' - specific to individuals' respective dietary patterns/needs, health conditions and health goals. But with the world in general, whether in the supermarkets or eateries where foods/ingredients are often labelled or marketed as 'Healthy' just because it is rich in xxx nutrients or low in yyy 'bad stuff', and social media understandably giving viewers what they like/want in terms of eye catching nuggets such as XXX is Healthy or YYY is good for ZZZ disease, but which are too generic, this specificity in terms of whether it is actually 'healthy' for a specific individual is lost, making this 'Healthy' labelling of foods not just overly-simplistic & generic but often even unhelpful or misleading

[@briantan2963]

@@TheHabitsDoctor Exactly! You said it much more eloquently. Like Milo which has a lot of sugar. Because of all these marketing, many think that it is right. So much disservice to the public. Nutella, which is more than 50% sugar, marketed as a good breakfast spread. Recently was told by my family to see a toothpaste commercial, saying it helps prevent diabetes! What has toothpaste got to do with diabetes?! In Singapore some more, so blatantly.

[@AtEboli]

If you are eating the whole fruit, and not just the juice, it would be hard to have too much. Dr. Greger on his videos has shown studies showing that even very sweet fruits like dates or figs do not tend to raise blood sugar levels over a period of time.

[@dianaunapkoshvili9249]

Wonderful doctor.

[@flowervase755]

I love your idea

[@mariasam2686]

I never know thnx for the detailed

[@gtm559]

OK I agree with you but what about bulgur?

[@consis]

very helpful, cannot thank you enough

[@LM-oj9jh]

You can have your brown rice . I'll have couscous 🤣

[@franticphenom]

helpful!

[@MD-01]

Thank you

[@cassiusmay9705]

Thank you

[@bunyutes6183]

Does couscous lower cholesterol?

[@marviav3071]

I this he is so right

[@r4ultra]

Thank you king!

[@AnaliaAbella]

Is it possible for couscous to cause bloating+discomfort? I rarely get stomach issues. But I ate some couscous after years without it, and the morning after woke up bloated, and it stayed the whole day :(

[@rafaelbohorquez9115]

im not a doctor but yea. Couscous is a pasta made from wheat. And well, gluten is hyperbad for pp with bloating problems. I say it cuz i stopped eating wheat by the same reason

[@rafaelbohorquez9115]

you should buy quinoa. It's a great alternative. It has real protein and not gluten xd vitamins, minerals and a lower GI.

[@lystrajackson1911]

Great 👌 video Dr I am starting to make better food choices

[@dashoverton1963]

Good or bad, couscous is delicious! Dr., you’re missing out!

[@AmineFeliti]

I know right ? In algeria we eat couscous each friday and in ramadan at sehoor. Fact : couscous's originally algerian

[@DD_MENEN]

😂😂😂😂

[@101theobserver]

@@AmineFeliti couscous is not originally Algerian ..it’s all North African

[@mostwardi4389]

@@AmineFeliti who bring it to alkheria the Otman empire or te france Empire. stop your shit, Couscous is Moroccan the cherifien Empire who bring it to you. توما بيضة مسلوقة ماتعرفوش تصايبوها عند الزامل بوكوم الخاطر باش اديرو وتبتاكرو كسكسو ...

[@adamsolyman7561]

​@@AmineFeliti Couscous is Berber in origin for all North Africans. But the country that sold couscous to the world is Morocco

[@jordancampbell2320]

Thanks for your video

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

Most welcome

[@vilmadann8910]

Thanks

[@mrt4937]

Very helpful, Thankyou

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@inguss27i]

Ty sir

[@maricrisvenzon4462]

Ty

[@jannickharambe8550]

amazing video

[@kaihanstein52]

Great accent!

[@candiworld5338]

Thx

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

You're welcome. Glad you found it useful. Blessings, Dr Chan

[@johnrhardy8156]

I only eat couscous made from barley or millet.

[@segante]

There iis another common form of "couscous" which is crushed wheat.. It's definitely heaallthy but it's not very satiating!!

[@cityroute]

Too late for me..I Ate already 1 cup of couscous now.

[@LM-oj9jh]

Not when you make it yourself. It's not processed!

[@riddley39]

I’m a diabetic and I showed my doctor this video, he said you are talking absolute rubbish and should be shut down for what you said. He said it’s a very healthy choice and better than rice.

[@TheHungarianOak]

if u are diabetic, stay away from couscous and rice, lentils, pasta, bulgur etc.

[@riddley39]

@@TheHungarianOak so what the hell am I suppose to eat with my meal then? Air? And the human body needs a level of carbs to function, diabetics are specifically told not to completely cut out carbs but to measure and take the required amount of insulin when eating them.

[@TheHungarianOak]

@@riddley39 it sucks to be a diabetic, but you will know, that most of the food i mentioned above, will break down as sugar in our body, making diabetes even worse. Diabetic people need to follow a low carb and high fat diet, and try to reverse the condition. You can eat your meat with green vegetables and other llow carb vegetables or with fatty sauces made of dairy or eggs, like full fat youghurt.

[@riddley39]

@@TheHungarianOak couple things you said that concerned me and I need to question, firstly you said eating carbs will make diabetes worse, please elaborate on how it can get worse by eating carbs if I am taking insulin? I don’t get that, coz my levels are low when I take the proper amount of insulin and exercise and I eat rice and pasta and carbs every single day, even chips (fries) etc. Secondly you said, diabetics need to follow a low carb high fat diet to try and reverse the condition? Hmmm🤔 you do realise that there is no cure and it can not be reversed right? And then you jumped out the window and said I can eat my meat with fatty sauces? Fatty sauces?? What are you even talking about bro? Sauces? Yogurt? 😂 that was wild! Are you just saying things on line for the sake of it with out having any type of knowledge? I think that’s a bit dangerous and reckless coz god forbid someone actually listens to you, they might do them selves damage. Be careful with that ridiculous talk on line bro yea.

[@TheHungarianOak]

@@riddley39 so many things you get wron here. First, Diabetes is reversible, thats a medical fact. i reversed it, my mum reversed it and its no secret that its curable. The reason why you need to follow high fat diet is because fat wont break down as sugar, and wont spike your blood sugar. And yes, beef for example is frequently served with sauces, like black pepper sauce. It was just an idea, dont have to do that. Also you can make sauces from full fat yoghurt. I have much knowledge and perosnal experience you see. Your biggest single mistake is that you take insulin. because you can eat as much as you want, insulin will keep your bloodsugar normal. but its not a viable solution, since your pancreas , that is producing insulin is overlloaded and you are still insulin resistant. The only the way to cure diabetes is for you to reduce natural insulin production from your own pancreas and get you pancreas accustomed to low insulin production, which takes time and lot of effort, like targeted low carb diet and fastings as well.

[@DragonDHunter]

Couscous is originated from my country Algeria (old Numedia)

[@mostwardi4389]

هههه، ماعند القواد بوكوم تا لخبز بقا غا كسكسو ...

[@TheHungarianOak]

stop this bs

[@DragonDHunter]

@@TheHungarianOak what is the origin of Couscous? Your ass ?

[@zhp500]

pasta just by another name.

[@raobb1416]

It is processed means not healthy.

[@AngorkorNai-Kwade]

👍

[@Amazigh9262]

You didn't know cooooking couscous for your clients

[@Amazigh9262]

You make marketing not doctor

[@Soneoak]

Couscous is pasta in the shape of tiny balls, got it.

[@TheHabitsDoctor]

yeah 😀

[@pedrozamariq]

I thought it was a grain

[@vukglusac4404]

Sorry Dr but there is integrale cous cous. THAT IS HELTHY CHOUSE! HELTH SHOP.

[@-SarahElizabeth-]

You should lose your license posting shit like this.

[@Bro.Str8lykDat]

Thanks

[@cheliae8560]

Thank you 👏