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Does
rice make you lose weight?
Rice
is a very popular staple in many parts of the globe and a huge
part of the world population consume rice daily on a regular basis.
Fluffy and tempting as it may look, rice however has often been
condemned as a food loaded with carbohydrate and a confirmed weight
gaining fare. Recent studies however reveal something different.
Researchers have found out that as compared to other starchy foods
like potatoes and pastas, rice contains less of calories and can
be successfully included into a weight loss diet plan, if the
serving portion and the accompaniments are controlled during consumption.
Many readers would be surprised to know that there are almost
40,000 varieties of harvested rice in the world, the 2 most popular
ones being-
White Rice (1 cup of cooked portion contains 240 calories,
5 gms protein, 53 gm carbohydrate. 0.5 gm fiber and 0.5 gm fat)
Brown rice ( 1 cup cooked portion contains 220 calories,
4.5 gms protein, 46 gm carbohydrate, 3.5 gm fiber, 1.5 gms fat)
Contrary to what most weight watchers believe, rice can make one
lose weight. Every good dietician will tell you that carbohydrate
is the primary source of energy and must necessarily be made a
part of a balanced diet. A no-carb diet can actually leave you
with nutrient deficiencies, unhealthy diseases and low levels
of energy. And so if you love rice, go ahead and indulge in it
for your daily requirement of carbs but just make sure that you
don't overdo it - control your portion size, include more of veggies,
lean meat, whole grains and fruits in your diet plan and see how
your weight takes a dip. And yes, make sure that you include some
exercise into your daily routine too. The bottom line of any weight
loss plan is - 'Expend more calories than you consume' and as
long as you maintain that, you can eat almost anything that you
want.
Health experts however always recommend the brown variety over
its white counterpart when you eat rice. The reason for this is
the fact that white rice undergoes extensive refinement for superior
taste but in the process loses much of its nutritional value (low
in vitamin, thiamine, Vitamin B6, Iron and magnesium) and fiber.
Brown rice, on the other hand is a clear winner in this field,
since it contains more of fiber (can keep you fuller for longer),
and is an excellent source of minerals like selenium, manganese
and Vitamin B6 and E. Being low in GI, it can help control spikes
in blood sugar, keep cravings at bay and help you lose weight
permanently.
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