How Rice Affects the Human Body

Rice is not by chance the main component of oriental cuisine. In many Asian countries a lot of tasty and useful dishes are prepared from this grain. But the extent to which rice grits are good for human health depends largely on the way the grain is processed.

What rice is healthier

The shelves of modern grocery stores are replete with an abundance of different varieties of cereals. This is true for rice as well. Buyers are offered brown and brown cereals. The traditional white cereal is also available in different versions. In a straight line are packages of rice:

• crushed;
• polished;
• steamed.

Therefore, it is natural that many buyers are interested in what kind of rice should be chosen for home cooking. Scientists have answered this difficult question after conducting numerous studies. The most useful for health, in their opinion, are the colored varieties, because in their shell is concentrated all the useful components.

Of the white varieties of cereals, steamed, and polished grains are less useful, because during the processing the outer shell is removed from them.

Chemical composition

It is quite clear that the color of the grains affects the composition. For example, brown rice is a record-breaker in terms of mineral elements, while the wild variety has much more plant fibers. Red cereal is rich in iron, which, in fact, explains its unusual hue. But different varieties of rice contain the following substances:

1. Vitamin complex (B vitamins deserve special attention).
2. Mineral elements: molybdenum, cobalt, selenium, silicon, chromium.
3. Ash and starch.
4. Fatty acids (saturated and unsaturated).
5. Plant proteins.
6. Monosaccharides and a number of other substances that are of great value for the human body.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that the caloric value of colored rice is almost three times lower than that of the white varieties. That's why many diets, especially the ration of people losing weight are based on the name of red or black grains.

Useful properties

Regardless of color, all varieties of rice grits have the following set of useful properties:

1. Provide the tissues of the body with energy and nutrition.
2. Normalize digestive processes.
3. Stabilize the balance of intestinal microflora.
4. Possessing pronounced antioxidant abilities, remove toxic products from the body.
5. Regulate cholesterol levels.
6. Normalize the endocrine system.
7. Have a positive effect on the nervous system.
8. Have a moderate diuretic property, which is useful for swelling.
9. Due to the starch content helps to normalize stools in intestinal disorders.
10. Strengthen the heart muscle due to the presence of potassium.
11. Regulate metabolic processes.

Recently, scientists found that the antioxidant properties of rice neutralize free radicals, so the dishes made of this healthy cereal reduce the risk of cancer. The high content of neurotransmitters in brown rice prevents the development of Alzheimer's disease in elderly people.

To this list of cereal's advantages we should add that dishes made of it quickly satisfy hunger. This property is widely used in therapeutic dietetics. Rice is included in the dietary programs for many diseases.

For example, in gastritis and peptic ulcer patients in the period of exacerbation are prescribed liquid rice porridge, which is good for enveloping the walls of the stomach, reducing pain and discomfort. Useful cereal for men's health, because the content in cereal zinc and selenium stimulates the production of testosterone.

Although there are no direct contraindications to the use of rice, except for individual intolerance, diabetics are not recommended to use white varieties in their diet because of their high starch content. For them it is better to prepare food from brown and brown grains. Care should be taken with rice and those who have a tendency to constipation. This rule especially applies to patients suffering from hemorrhoids and fissures of the rectum.