Been thinking of shedding those extra pounds? While staying in shape might mean a rigid exercise plan, your diet plays a huge role too. Often, many who wish to lose weight tend to avoid carbohydrates as rice seem to contain a large amount of carbohydrates. However, that is not necessarily true with brown rice. Besides a range of nutritional benefits, brown rice holds a trump card – especially useful for people who are looking to lose weight.
Here, we unravel the four facts on how and why brown rice can aid in weight loss:
1. Brown rice helps lose fat.
Being whole grain, brown rice is not stripped off its nutritional components compared to refined grains such as white rice. One cup of rice consists only 1.8 grams of fat. In a 2008 study, participants who ate whole grains were proven to lose more fat in their midsection as compared to those who had refined grains (i.e. white rice).
2. Brown rice facilitates slow sugar release.
Thanks to its slow sugar release, brown rice helps to stabilize your blood sugar levels – making it very beneficial for diabetics. According to research, just by having half a cup of brown rice daily can reduce your risk of developing diabetes of up to 60%.
3. Brown rice is low in density.
Did you know that brown rice is lower in density? The fiber contained in rice is accountable for the low energy density. Hence, brown rice helps you to feel full faster without filling your stomach with extra calories. Lesser food = lesser calories = weight loss!
4. Brown rice is rich in fiber.
Fiber plays an important role in your body’s digestion process. As brown rice contains a large amount of fiber, it helps to facilitate regular bowel movement – disposing what you have eaten and eliminate toxins from your body. Not only that, it boosts your metabolism – burning more calories and making it easier to lose weight. Also, it prevents constipation, too.
Note: While incorporating brown rice into your diet can aid in weight-loss, eating brown rice alone without making other changes to your diet might not make much of a difference. For long-term weight-loss success, one should integrate brown rice into their diet and follow a regular exercise routine.