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This is the most frequently asked question. Many people I know have stopped eating rice simply because they think it leads to weight gain! Now tell me, if that was true, most south Indians, and people living on coastal areas and south-east Asians would be fat or obese! Think about it, majority of the world eats rice. It is the staple food of more than half the world’s population. It is the predominant dietary energy source for 17 countries in Asia and the pacific, 9 countries in North and South America and 8 countries in Africa. So the mindset that rice makes one fat is proved wrong here itself!

This misconception might have stemmed from the fact that majority of us have started eating polished rice. Rice is basically a good source of not only carbohydrates but also protein, thiamin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid,B6, magnesium, manganese, potassium, fiber essential fats, and if red, then also some antioxidants! But while we polish it, we remove the outer layer and sometimes the germ of the grain, wherein we lose majority of the nutrients!! So when we eat rice, we have to keep this in mind, that we should be eating hand-polished rice (easily available in select stores) or parboiled rice which is first soaked before polishing, as this leads to absorption of vitamins from the outer layer of the husk to the inner layers; thereby preserving the nutrients.

Another better way of cooking rice is to soak it for around 30 hours in warm water, this leads to germination and increases in nutrient content and also certain enzymes which aid in digestion. Besides it also improves the amino-acid quality of proteins and hence makes it an almost complete protein by increasing the biological value.

Rice when combined with a few vegetables and dal or curds, becomes a complete meal by itself.
Since centuries rice or Kanjee is consumed when sick. It is a thin gruel or broth made by softening the rice. This when made with polished rice has very little effect! Try making this with whole rice and see the difference! It is easier on the stomach and also gives a lot of B-complex which aids in recovery.

The best way to make a broth is to use brown rice which has been soaked for around 30 hours and then cooked with salt. Do not drain the water in which it is cooked as the B-vitamins are water soluble and will be in that water. Consume this as a soup for speedy recovery!

Tags : Women, rice, eating, diet, health