
Parboiled rice benefits a lot. Parboiled rice is also a source of iron and calcium. Compared to white rice, parboiled rice has fewer calories, fewer carbohydrates, more fiber, and more protein. This makes it a healthier alternative to traditional white rice. Here we are going to discuss the benefits of parboiled rice.
Parboiled Rice Benefits
Improved Gut Health
The starch in parboiled rice acts as a prebiotic, meaning that it acts as a sort of fertilizer and encourages the growth of healthy bacteria, or probiotics, in your gut. Having the right balance of microorganisms in your gut can impact everything from your health to your mood, so eating foods containing prebiotics can be extremely beneficial to your overall health.
Reduced Diabetes Symptoms
Studies suggest that, in comparison to both white rice and brown rice, parboiled rice has a lower impact on blood sugar levels, making it a safer choice for people with diabetes than other kinds of rice. This may be especially true if you refrigerate leftover parboiled rice and then eat the leftovers, as storing parboiled rice in cold temperatures may further reduce the impact it has on your blood sugar levels.
Easy to Digest
Parboiled rice is very light on the stomach containing fiber in it, which helps in restoring bowel function and ameliorates common digestive issues like diarrhea and constipation. While you are on a diet, you restrict yourself from carbohydrates and often forget that your body needs it to function well, think clearly, be active and stay fit. And if you are calorie conscious person, there is nothing to worry about as this type of rice is very low on calories and rich in a variety of nutrients, essential for the human body.
Rich in Minerals
One cup of parboiled rice contains a lot of nutritional value providing you with 2 to 2.5 percent of the daily recommended intake of calcium, iron, potassium, and manganese. Being rich in manganese reduces the risk of heart attacks and helps lower blood pressure. It will also spike up your intake of zinc which will help you boost your immune system.
High in Antioxidants
Parboiled rice comes loaded with phytonutrients and antioxidants. It has a large number of anthocyanins, which have been linked to preventing cancer and reducing inflammation.
Rich in Vitamins
If you want to hike up your vitamin levels and find it difficult to supplement them, parboiled rice could be ideal for you. Parboiled rice has double the number of vitamins compared to regular white rice. It is especially rich in B vitamins containing niacin, riboflavin, and vitamin B6, nutrients that your body needs to metabolize food into energy.
155g Parboiled Rice Nutrition
- Calories: 194
- Fat: 0.5 grams
- Carbohydrates: 41 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 5 grams
Side Effects of Parboiled Rice
Parboiled rice is generally safe to eat in normal quantities. However, any food can become dangerous if eaten in large amounts. Although parboiled rice is healthier than white rice, it is not the healthiest grain on the market, and there are several healthier alternatives to parboiled rice you can choose from to mix up your diet.
Arsenic Levels
Like all rice, parboiled rice contains levels of inorganic arsenic. Eating large amounts of rice can lead to toxic levels of arsenic in your bloodstream, which can be particularly harmful to young children. There are ways to reduce the amount of arsenic you ingest when you eat parboiled rice. Rinsing your rice in clean water and cooking your rice thoroughly can help remove some of the arsenic from your rice.
However, it’s still important to limit your rice intake to seven or fewer servings per week. The easiest way to do this is to mix up your grains and eat a variety of foods throughout the week.