Among which nations are the most centenarians? Different sources provide different statistics. One way or another, but the first places often go to Japan and Korea, with some margin comes China. A reasonable question arises: what do they eat? And the most obvious answer: fig.
Of course, besides him, in their diet there is a large number of fish and seafood, as well as vegetables. So you can not ascribe such a miraculous role to this cereal. And yet rice is healthy.
A bit of history
It’s worth a few words about the history of rice. For many centuries he was known in Russia as “Saracen millet”. Muslim peoples were called Saracens in Russia. In the recipes for the royal table already in the XVI-XVII centuries, this cereal was mentioned, but it did not receive distribution among the people. In the XIX century, rice was also included in the delicacies of French and Italian cuisine, which were popular among nobles and intellectuals. But in Soviet times, it became a truly folk product.
The benefits of rice
Rice is a dietary product. And there are many reasons for this. The beneficial properties of rice are diverse. It contains many minerals and vitamins of group B. The latter play an important role in the functioning of the nervous system and in metabolism.
This cereal contains complex carbohydrates. What does this mean? Carbohydrates are simple and complex. Simple are absorbed into the blood very quickly, this process begins already in the mouth under the influence of saliva. Sugar that instantly enters the bloodstream makes insulin stand out. Part of the carbohydrates is processed into glycogen - the energy reserve in the muscles and liver, and part goes into fat. After that, the blood sugar level drops, and the body takes this as a signal of hunger. Simple carbohydrates are rich in sweets, flour products. Complex carbohydrates work differently: slowly but surely. They break down much longer, but give a long-term feeling of satiety, do not cause a sharp increase in blood sugar and saturate with energy for a long time.
All this makes rice an excellent remedy for excess weight. In addition, it has a little sodium and a lot of potassium, which only enhances the beneficial properties of rice, improving the figure.
Cereal is also different in that it practically does not cause allergies. Due to this fact and its beneficial properties, rice has taken a strong place among the first products in the child’s diet. From 6 months it can be used as porridge for feeding. The important point is that there is almost no gluten in rice. Infants at this age still cannot digest this protein, so gluten-free cereals - buckwheat, corn and, of course, rice, are chosen for feeding. Often she comes first on this list. For the same reason, rice is on the menu of people with gluten intolerance.
In addition, rice is a product that is necessarily part of the diet for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The enveloping properties of rice are useful for gastritis, gastric ulcer, high acidity. Interestingly, cereal benefits both with diarrhea and constipation. The difference is which rice to use and how to cook it. For diarrhea, rice broth or thickly cooked rice is recommended, with constipation - whole brown, which is rich in fiber and stimulates peristalsis.
What is rice like? Classify it according to various criteria.
Types of rice in the form of grain
Long grain rice is easily recognizable in appearance. It, as the name implies, has narrow and long grains. This rice is suitable for meat side dishes, for pilaf. Its distinctive feature is that it absorbs a little water and does not stick together.
Mid-grain rice is suitable for making risotto, paella, soups and cereals. It contains more starch and absorbs more fluid. It is slightly more sticky than long-grain, but still does not stick together and does not turn into a homogeneous mass.
Kruglozerny rice is ideal for preparing sweet dishes, such as puddings and milk porridge. In addition, it is also used in making sushi. This is due to its stickiness. It is considered suitable for baby food.
Types of rice by processing method
Brown (unpolished) rice. It undergoes minimal processing, which preserves its bran shell. It gives the product a light nutty flavor. The preserved shell contains useful substances such as fiber, B vitamins, zinc, iodine, phosphorus, and copper. In other types of cereals, they are found in much smaller quantities. This makes brown rice a more healthy product. It boils for about half an hour. Shelf life is shorter than that of other species.
White (polished) rice has a pure white color. It is cleaned of all shells, as a result of which it loses most of the nutrients. But it is also impossible to call it a useless product. It does not lose the beneficial properties of complex carbohydrates, nor the ability to envelop the stomach. This cereal is affordable and has a long shelf life. It boils quickly, about 15 minutes.
Steamed rice has a yellowish tint. A special technology of steaming allows you to transfer nutrients from the shell into the grain itself. About 80% of vitamins and minerals are retained. It boils for about 20-25 minutes and after cooking takes on a normal white color. It usually does not stick after cooking and has a richer taste than polished.
Contraindications
Rice has useful properties and contraindications. First of all, we are talking about white polished rice. After all, most of this product is carbohydrates. Therefore, its use should be reduced to diabetics. Such rice may also exhibit an excessive fixing effect, which can provoke not only constipation, but also hemorrhoids. In such cases, the amount of rice in the food should also not be too large.
Other species, for example, brown, will be more useful in such situations, although you do not need to get too carried away with them. In addition, there are people who are allergic to the most hypoallergenic product. For some, it happens in fig. Such people do not need to eat it at all. And what do nutritionists say about the beneficial properties and contraindications of rice? Experts say that the consumption of any product should be approached reasonably. Each of the types is useful, you just need to first familiarize yourself with the properties inherent in each of them.
Indian sea rice
And now it's worth talking about the exotic. The so-called Indian sea rice is becoming increasingly popular today. The title is intriguing. How can rice be sea? It is worth mentioning right away that this wonderful product has the same relation to rice as a guinea pig to the sea and a pig. By the way, the word "marine" in this case appeared in the same way as in the case of the guinea pig - from the shortened word "overseas". In the sea, this product does not grow. He has the most similarities with Kombucha.
Who are you, Mr. X?
So what is it - a plant, a mushroom, maybe even an animal? No, it's a zoogley. So called mucous substances, which are formed during the life of bacteria. So sea rice is not an organism, but a whole "hostel" of bacteria and microorganisms coexisting in a symbiosis. He came to Russia from India in the 19th century, which is why he was nicknamed Indian. Meanwhile, it has been known since ancient times in different countries. For example, in ancient Rome it was called "poska", and in Mexico - "chibi". From the last went its scientific name tibicos.
Indian sea rice consists of translucent grains. He recalls both heavily boiled rice and large granules of salt, only soft ones.
The use of sea rice
Useful properties of this product are quite wide and varied. It reduces blood sugar, boosts immunity, and contributes to the death of germs that damage the airways. Due to its beneficial properties, Indian sea rice has been used in cosmetology. It is considered a skin cleanser, nourishing it with vitamins and minerals.
How to cook sea rice infusion
The healing drink is obtained from the liquid medium in which this translucent "pet" will dwell. To create a nutrient solution for it, per liter of water will require 10-15 raisins (if there is no raisins, other dried fruits will do), 3 tablespoons of sugar and 4 tablespoons of sea rice. Sugar must be previously dissolved in water - the contact of sweet grains with a fungus is a danger to the latter. Rice should be washed before use. All this should be stored in a clean jar covered with gauze. The bank needs to be kept in the light.
The time for which the infusion will be ready depends on the temperature, so in the summer it usually takes two days, and in the winter - three. The most favorable temperature for this heat-loving guest from India is from 25 degrees. If the room is too cold, the infusion will not form, and the mushroom will stop growing. In this case, you can put a jar near the stove or kettle. So the beneficial properties of Indian rice are quickly transferred to the drink.
Benefit and harm
It has sea rice and useful properties, and contraindications, like any other folk remedy. For example, with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, unfortunately, it can do more harm than good. It is also unsafe with exacerbation of certain diseases.
Numerous consumers leave their feedback on sea rice. The beneficial properties and contraindications of the drink obtained from it are of interest to many. So, people say that they have fully felt its benefit on themselves. Some notice an improvement in skin condition - acne disappears, which for many years have been unsuccessfully treated by various means. By the way, the infusion of sea rice is suitable for external use. They can wash their nose with a runny nose, rinse their hair. The beneficial effect on the hair, according to reviews, becomes noticeable almost immediately - they become silky, soft and stay clean longer. When applying the infusion inside, some allegedly lose weight. In addition, the drink has a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system and normalizes sleep. However, right before bedtime, you should not drink it - it has diuretic properties.
However, not everyone can use this sour drink, similar to kvass. People note that at the very beginning of use, the product can cause indigestion, diarrhea, nausea. As a rule, this condition is temporary, it is the adaptation of the body to new substances and bacteria. But if such a reaction is strong, it is better to stop such experiments. Sea rice and hypotonics may not be suitable. Doctors explain this by the fact that it reduces the already low pressure, which leads to lethargy, dizziness. But with hypertension, such properties will provide only benefit.