The way you eat can tell a lot about your general well-being. Of course, sometimes you may be too busy to prepare an elaborate meal, which is why fat food is a fine solution. However, you should never rely on that type of unhealthy food as your primary source of nutrients.
Carbs often tend to get a bad reputation, but they’re also extremely important for one’s wellbeing and energy.
Rice is a staple food in many countries, mainly in Asia. It’s no surprise, considering that it’s versatile, delicious, and easy to prepare. But, is it healthy? Here are some benefits and drawbacks of regular rice consumption.
Which One To Choose: White Or Brown Rice?
Brown rice is often presented as a healthier alternative to white rice. Generally, that’s considered true, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat white rice if you feel like it. However, it’s important to mention that brown rice contains many more natural ingredients like fibers, minerals and proteins whereas white rice types have been stripped of these nutrients. Basically, brown rice is whole grain while white rice isn’t, but that doesn’t mean that white rice is completely bad and that it should be avoided.
Still, there’s another rice variety, and that’s black rice. This type of rice is the best and most nutritional out of all of them, but it also contains the highest amount of calories, which means it’s important to pay attention to portion sizes.
Eating Rice: What Are The Benefits?
Brown rice is often presented as a healthier alternative to white rice. Generally, that’s considered true, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat white rice if you feel like it. However, it’s important to mention that brown rice contains many more natural ingredients like fibers, minerals and proteins whereas white rice types have been stripped of these nutrients. Basically, brown rice is whole grain while white rice isn’t, but that doesn’t mean that white rice is completely bad and that it should be avoided.
Still, there’s another rice variety, and that’s black rice. This type of rice is the best and most nutritional out of all of them, but it also contains the highest amount of calories, which means it’s important to pay attention to portion sizes.
Eating Rice: What Are The Benefits?
Carbs are good and beneficial, unless you’re on some type of a keto diet. So, eating rice has many benefits: it's a quick energy source, it’s abundant and easy to cook. For those who wish to increase their fiber intake, it’s best to opt for brown rice, as it has more fiber compared to white variety. But, athletes and those who need a quick energy boost, might benefit more from eating white rice.
The main benefit of eating rice lies in the fact that rice is nutritional, and a great source of important minerals and vitamins, such as vitamins B, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium and manganese.
A Great Solution For People With Gluten Intolerance
One of the biggest upsides of eating rice is that it’s a gluten-free solution. So if you suffer from Celiac disease, or you’re just gluten sensitive, rice is a perfect solution, because it’s packed with nutrients and is naturally gluten-free. Therefore, if you want to switch to a more GF diet, then make sure to find the healthiest rice and prepare it in a gluten-free way. Adding more rice to your diet is also a good idea if you want to reduce your consumption of unhealthy and refined carbs.
Are There Downsides To Eating Rice?
Rice is generally considered super healthy, but it also has a high glycemic index, which means that it creates spikes in blood sugars which can later lead to crashes (fatigue, energy loss, headaches etc.)
Hence, if you’re diabetic, or have insulin sensitivity, it’s best to opt for brown sugar, as it has more fiber and more complex carbohydrates, which means it will be better digested and will also allow the body to maintain better energy levels.
The Final Verdict
Since we’ve established that rice is healthy, then it means you should absolutely add it to your diet, but it’s important to remain cautious, and choose brown rice varieties over white due to better nutritional content. Also, if you have issues with diabetes, or diabetes-related conditions, then it’s essential to consult your doctor or nutritionist, in order to get a proper meal plan that will keep you sustained and energized by providing your body with all the important nutrients.
