The Health Benefits of Eating Rice
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Whether its short, medium or long grain rice – all varieties offer a host of benefits. Rice is naturally versatile and convenient and can be used in so many dishes to enjoy throughout the day but also contains a host of nutrients too.
So, what’s in a bowl of rice?
Energy: Rice is a valuable source of complex carbohydrates, which is the best source of energy. This is why athletes often choose rice as their preferred source of energy, especially when refueling after exercise.
Vitamins and minerals: Rice is packed full of vitamins and minerals including vitamin E, B vitamins and potassium.
- Vitamin E helps maintain healthy skin and eyes, and strengthen the body’s natural defense against illness and infection (the immune system).[i]
- B Vitamins help release energy from the food you eat and help your body work properly[ii]
- Potassium helps control the balance of fluids in the body, and also helps the heart muscle work properly.[iii]
And what isn’t?
- Fat and cholesterol:. All rice is low in fat and cholesterol
- Sodium. Rice contains virtually no sodium.
Gluten: all rice (in its natural form) is gluten-free. This includes brown rice, white rice, and wild rice. Even Asian or sticky rice, also called “glutinous rice,” is gluten-free, which is why rice is one of the most popular gluten-free grains for people with coeliac disease. In fact, many gluten-free foods are made with rice flour instead of wheat flour.
PS – and with a bowl of rice there is minimal wastage!
It’s safe to reheat rice as long as you are careful. Simply cool your rice down as quickly as possible and get it in the fridge within an hour, but don’t keep it longer than 24 hours. Reheat it thoroughly until it’s piping hot all the way through and never reheat it more than once.
You can safely freeze any leftover cooked rice to eat another time: Cool the rice quickly after cooking and freeze as soon as it is cold enough. Pack the rice into a container, seal and place into the freezer. It can be kept for up to one month.
For more information see: www.riceassociation.org.uk or www.facebook.com/TheRiceAssociation
