Rice is the staple food in several countries, and the people in those countries tend to be slim and healthy. This gives the impression that rice is a good food to eat and that no matter how much you consume it will not make you put weight on. That is not the case however, it is only if you eat the right portion of the right rice that it will not make you fat.

Is White or Brown the Best?

There are many different varieties of rice, but the main two are just white rice and brown rice. White rice is the most usual one used in the western world, and certainly is the one you are served in takeout food shops and restaurants. White rice has a very high glycaemic index which results in spikes in insulin and blood sugars. This is not helpful for weight control or general health. It is high in fiber, which is good, but is also high in carbs, which is not so good.

Brown rice on the other hand, is higher in fiber than white rice, but has fewer carbs. It will affect sugar and insulin levels to a lower degree, and as well as having plenty of vitamins and nutrients, it is high in potassium which is good for the heart.

If you are a rice lover but wondering does rice make you fat, brown rice is less likely to, as well as it being a healthier option.

How It Is Cooked Matters

How you cook the rice can affect how it will affect your weight. Boiling it is the best way, but never stir it while it is in the pan. Stirring will break the grains and make it sticky, so avoid that if you can. Soaking in cold water for half an hour before cooking can help the heat to spread through it more evenly, giving a better finished product. Brown rice needs more water and takes longer to boil than white.

Although frying it might give a little extra flavor, the fat used will not help your weight at all.

Most Importantly, Watch Your Portion Size

When you think of the countries that eat a lot of rice and yet the people are still slim, you need to look at the portion size that they eat. They do not eat huge amounts of rice at every meal, and if you want to keep eating rice while trying to lose weight, you need to watch your portion size too. Although large amounts of white rice are the worst, it is still possible to eat too much brown rice as well.

There are no end of things you can eat with rice, and many ways of adding flavor to it. Things like peppers, mushroom and onions are all great options for extra flavour. Although too much rice cooked the wrong way will help to increase your weight rather than reduce it, rice will not put as much weight on as constantly eating greasy chips for your meal would.

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