CEBU, Philippines - It’s time to rice to the challenge. Eating rice only or eating more rice is ideal for a weight management.
Because it tends to give a heavy feeling, most people cut on rice thinking it will make them lose weight. Cutting on rice intake will do more harm. Rice is rich in complex carbohydrates, making this a good source of protein alternative for meat in a vegetarian diet. Being laden with carbohydrates, rice fulfills the energy requirements of the body. Cutting on rice will make you lose your energy source.
What makes rice ideal for weight management is that it is low in fat, low in salt, low in sugar and has no cholesterol. Obviously because it is cholesterol-free, then it is good to include this in a cholesterol-lowering diet. Rice is less on calories but more on energy.
Rice is good dietary fiber. The resistant starch in rice helps in good bowel movement while the insoluble fiber in rice gives relief from constipation.
Rice does not contain preservatives or additives and is free from gluten. Some people are unable to tolerate proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. Because rice is gluten free, it is ideal for people needing gluten free dietary requirements.
Many of us may not be aware that in addition to assisting the energy requirements of the body, rice increases the body’s immunity against harmful diseases and is helpful in the recovery of impaired immune system. When a person or a child gets sick with fever, it is often that he is given a bowl of hot rice porridge. Usually after taking this, he is restored of his energy.
Drug companies have insulting ways of luring people to gobble the pill for symptoms of fever or colds by having actors as endorsers. It is as if the actors are physicians or have gone through medical school that they are authorities to prescribe the drug. Be wary of things that corrupt the body. Why gobble up the pill which can have harmful side effects when a bowl of rice is healthful.
We may take it for granted, but having strong bones is what we all need to keep us standing up or literally – rising to the challenge. Presence of niacin, fiber, vitamin D, calcium and iron in rice make bones strong. It is alarming that in an ad, people are made to believe calcium in toothpaste can make teeth strong. Truth is, children who eat more rice than french fries, chocolates, chips or burgers will have strong teeth.
Cooked rice has low content of sodium and so reduces blood pressure making it useful for patients with hypertension.
Studies have shown that the association between rice and certain cancers are low. All types of rice are highly protective against cancer and heart diseases and are remedy for cardiovascular diseases. Presence of fiber and antioxidants like selenium enable the body to be protected against cancer. Brown rice especially is said to be more beneficial because it is rich in manganese, B complex vitamins and magnesium. Increased brown rice consumption decreases risks of cancer in the colon, throat, thyroid, pancreas, rectum, stomach, breast, uterus and liver.
Rice is the seed of a monocot plant called Oryza sativa. When you cut down rice intake, you deprive yourself of energy, lose your immunity and worse, make yourself vulnerable to cancer and other diseases. Energize with rice. ?