Can you lose weight by eating white rice

Being a carbohydrate, people often think that rice contains high gluten. However, rice is highly recommendable if you are intolerant to gluten and suffer from celiac disease.

  • Regularly eating rice will make you fat -

The question like 'is white rice good for weight loss' excludes it from major fad diets. But, it is a better addition to one's diet because it is easily digestible, cholesterol-free, and low in fat.

Can you lose weight by eating white rice
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Which Rice Is Good For Weight Loss?

To answer the question 'which rice is good for weight loss, one should focus on the calorific value and portion of rice you intake daily. Generally, hand-pounded, red, brown, and unpolished rice is rich in fibre.

As they are more filling, it is ideal to choose from these four varieties for weight loss. Coloured rice, viz. red and brown rice, are rich in fibre and antioxidants, making it a better option for weight loss.

Brown Rice vs White Rice

White rice is a refined one, with no germ and bran. It is the nutritious part of the rice. Hence, its frequent consumption might lead to obesity and other chronic diseases.

Brown rice, on the other hand, is a whole grain that contains essential nutrients. Hence, it has nutritious germ, fibrous bran, and carb-rich endosperm. Moreover, it has more fibres and antioxidants, making it the healthier option.

Can you lose weight by eating white rice
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Is white rice good for weight loss?

Heavy processing often removes the nutritious layer in white rice. Hence, it lacks essential vitamins and minerals. However, 'is white rice good for weight loss is often a conflicting point for researchers.

Well, white rice is neither favourable nor harmful for weight loss. Consume the correct portion, depending on your work and lifestyle. But is basmati rice good for weight loss? It (especially the Himalayan grown rice) has lower arsenic content than brown rice, eliminating the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Is brown rice good for weight loss?

As mentioned earlier, you eat the entire grain when you consume brown rice. Being least processed, it is more nutritious. Brown rice has low carb content, which most dietitians prefer for people on the weight loss track.

Low-calorie brown rice burns extra fat from one's body. Moreover, it has loads of iron, vitamins, potassium, and other vital nutrients. High fibre ensures easy digestion and smooth bowel movement. The stronger your digestive system is, the better you can maintain your body weight.

Hence, the answer to 'is brown rice good for weight loss' is yes!

Does Rice Make You Fat?

Questions like, 'Is boiled rice good for weight loss' leads one to believe in the popular misconception. As per the common saying, "Excess of anything is highly dangerous;" similarly, if one consumes a heavy amount of rice daily, it may lead to obesity.

Everyone's body has specific nutritional requirements. Rice is an energy-giving food, and if eaten in correct proportions, it helps maintain the body weight, rather than leading to weight gain.

If one does not increase recommended daily caloric intake, it will not harm one's body. People often combine rice with fried foods or fatty curries that improve the overall calorie of the meal.

Hence, rice alone does not lead to weight gain or may aid in weight loss. It is the overall meal or the combination of foods that affects your body.

Because it's a nutrient-rich food, you may be wondering if rice is good for weight loss. Different types of rice have different nutrients in them. In the right portions, white and brown rice can be incorporated into a weight-loss diet.

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Rice is an easily digested, gluten-free grain that's relatively inexpensive and versatile in recipes. It can be a good choice when you're trying to lose weight.

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Brown rice may be a better choice for weight loss than white rice because it has more fiber, a nutrient with anti-obesity benefits, per the Mayo Clinic.

Diets high in refined grains, such as white rice, have been tied to weight gain and metabolic conditions.

Other types of rice, like wild rice and black rice, also have high amounts of fiber and can be part of a weight-loss diet.

Can You Eat Rice for Weight Loss?

Eating rice, or any one food for that matter, in order to lose weight is never a good strategy. To maintain a healthy weight, focus on eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet made up of lean proteins, fruits and veggies, whole grains and healthy fats.

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That said, if you're planning your diet around weight loss, rice can be incorporated in your meal plan. Be mindful of your portions when eating rice for weight loss, as rice is high in carbohydrates and the calories can add up no matter which type you choose.

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Carbs should make up 45 percent to 65 percent of your total daily calories, which is between 225 and 325 grams per day if you eat a 2,000-calorie diet, according to the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

White Rice for Weight Loss

White rice has been eaten in cultures all over the world for thousands of years. It comes in short, medium and long grain varieties, including:

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  • parboiled, or precooked rice
  • basmati and jasmine, two types of long-grain rice
  • arborio, a type of short-grain rice used in Italian dishes like risotto

All of the white rice varieties have one thing in common: They've been refined in a process that smooths the grain, and in doing so, either the bran or germ or both have been removed. This leaves just the soft endosperm, giving the rice a more tender texture and mild flavor, but also removing nutrients.

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According to the USDA, a cup of white rice has 205 calories, 45 grams of carbs, about half a gram of fat and about 4 grams of protein. While white rice can be "enriched" with vitamins and minerals during processing, the fiber content cannot be replaced. For this reason, white rice might not be the best for weight loss.

The main nutrient in rice is carbs, and because there's no fiber in white rice, those carbs are digested and absorbed quickly, causing your blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. This is partly why refined grains are less satiating than whole grains and have been associated with weight gain, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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Diets high in refined grains have been linked to more abdominal fat, per a November 2010 ​American Journal of Clinical Nutrition​. This specific kind of fat has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other health issues.

To maintain a healthy weight while eating white rice, be sure that at least half of your daily carbs come from whole grains, per the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

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Brown Rice for Weight Loss

When you're trying to lose weight, you have to be mindful of the amount and quality of the calories you're taking in. Brown rice isn't exactly low in calories, but it can still add nutritional value to a weight-loss diet.

A 1-cup serving of cooked brown rice has 218 calories, 45 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein, per the USDA. Not only that, but brown rice offers high amounts of B vitamins and minerals like manganese, magnesium and copper.

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On top of being a nutrient-dense food, brown rice may aid weight loss thanks to the fiber in it. While making multiple lifestyle changes is best for weight loss, just eating more fiber has been linked to healthy changes in weight, according to a February 2015 study in the ​Annals of Internal Medicine​.

There's also some evidence directing linking brown rice to weight loss. People with type 2 diabetes that switched out white rice for brown rice lost weight and improved their blood pressure in one January 2014 study in the ​Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology​.

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Another study found that swapping out white rice for brown rice helped improve visceral fat loss, the metabolically active belly fat that surrounds your organs and poses a serious health risk. per results in the January 2014 issue of the ​British Journal of Nutrition​. Interestingly, they also found that switching back to white rice caused people to gain the weight back.

Brown rice is often served plain as a healthy-but-boring side dish — but it can be livened up. Mix your brown rice with lemon juice and basil and mint chiffonade for a more flavorful side, or make a mini grain salad by mixing in a spoonful of cranberries and chopped walnuts, then topping your rice with an orange and balsamic vinaigrette.

Use brown rice as a base for grain bowls, and top it with black beans, toasted corn, red peppers, tomatoes and avocado for a healthy, Mexican-inspired dinner. Add a handful of cooked brown rice to your favorite vegetable soups to infuse them with more complex carbohydrates for long-lasting energy.

How much rice should I eat a day to lose weight?

The nutritionist advises portion control for weight loss. “You should have two chapatis and half a bowl of rice for lunch. Fill the rest of your plate with veggies. Furthermore, have a light dinner and avoid rice at night.

Can I eat rice everyday and still lose weight?

If you are fond of eating rice and it is an indelible part of your daily meals, you may still be able to consume them on a weight loss diet, given that you exercise portion control and maintain a healthy diet and workout regimen. Be mindful, that's all.

Does white rice help lose belly fat?

White rice also has the lowest fiber per serving and highest carbs compared to black rice and brown rice. Low fiber won't help you keep full and ultimately will make you hungry a little faster. So, if you're focused on belly fat loss, stick to brown or black rice, as those rices are higher in nutrients," says D'Angelo.