Rice is a common ingredient in recipes, and it is also a popular side dish chosen to accompany meat dishes.
Most people simply assume that rice is healthy, but the nutritional value of rice is entirely dependent on the type of rice you choose.
Crucially, white rice is just like white bread; it can encourage your body to store excess fat that it doesn’t need and make it harder to lose weight. In addition, it has little nutritional value.
When it comes to choosing rice for a meal or a side dish, always opt for brown rice if you want to boost your overall health. Brown rice is full of fiber, vitamins and nutrients.
The high fiber content helps you to feel full and satisfied for longer (reducing your likelihood of overeating or reaching for a pack of cookies), and some studies also suggest that the plant lignans in brown rice can reduce your risk of developing heart disease (perhaps by combating arterial hardening).
However, the benefits don’t end here. Brown rice continues to be a popular subject of nutritional research, with experts currently exploring everything from a link to a reduction in asthma symptoms to the possibility that people who eat the most brown rice are less likely to develop cancer.
In sum, brown rice not only lacks the properties that link white rice to health risks, but it also contains a whole host of extra properties that are directly connected to health benefits.