While scientists continue to explore the role of diet in weight loss, there is one vegetable that stands out as a common factor in many successful weight loss stories: rice. Thanks to its high fiber and micronutrient content, eating this versatile grain seems to offer some considerable advantages.
Eating More Varying Food Increases Appetite
According to research, people who consumed more varied food had a greater appetite than those who ate less variety. So if you’re someone who feels bloated and sluggish from eating the same foods all the time, consider exploring different types of cuisine to see if that boosts your appetite and aids in weight loss.
High-Fiber Foods Keep You Regular
Consuming more than 14 grams of fiber per day has been found to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, while increasing insulin sensitivity. All of these factors make a diet rich in fiber a sound choice for weight loss.
Boosts Immunity
Eating a diet rich in antioxidants and other nutrients helps keep your immune system in good condition and functioning at its best. When you have an undernourished immune system, it may be more susceptible to illness and infection, which in turn could lead to weight gain. So eating well to support a healthy immune system can also help you keep the weight off.
Of course, there are disadvantages to any diet regime. If you consume too much rice, you may end up with unwanted extra weight. You should not have such excess rice in the first place, so try to eat the recommended portions or less to avoid this problem.
Reduces Stomach Bacteria
According to research, foods high in fiber reduce the amount of bacteria that live in the stomach. When food is quickly converted to small molecules in the stomach, the acid environment tends to kill much of the bacteria. So the less bacteria you have living in your stomach, the less you will absorb from food that is partially digested. This makes fiber-rich foods an effective method of weight loss through diet.
Offers An Energy Boost
When you’re trying to lose weight, every bit of help counts. Fortunately, rice has been found to offer an energy boost, in addition to its other advantages. In a study of 16 healthy women between the ages of 18 and 50, participants who consumed brown rice as part of their daily diet gained less weight and had smaller waistlines compared to those who ate refined grains. This is likely because brown rice is high in fiber, which provides several benefits to the body, including satiety or fullness (feeling satisfied with what you’ve eaten) and a reduction in cholesterol and blood pressure.
If you want to lose weight, consider taking a closer look at how rice can help you achieve your goal. While it may not be the sole driver of weight loss, it’s certainly a useful tool for reaching your desired weight. So instead of reaching for the same old standbys (i.e. potato chips, cake, or ice cream), try exploring the world of rice and seeing which types of dishes you like best. This may help you develop a diet plan that works best for you.