Like the rest of Southeast Asia, rice is a staple in the Filipino household – be it breakfast, merienda, lunch or dinner, a meal is not complete without a cup of rice or two.
Even with Filipinos clamoring for a healthier lifestyle and swearing off carbohydrates, rice somehow finds its way back to one’s diet.
Luckily for moms, researchers have finally found a healthier way to prepare rice that would be beneficial for your husband and children’s health.
This method of preparation reportedly can reduce “calories by as much as 60 percent and even offer a few other added health benefits.”
According to telegraph.co.uk, “Scientists in Sri Lanka have discovered that cooking rice with a teaspoon of coconut oil then refrigerating it for 12 hours more than halves the number of calories absorbed by the body. The change remains even if it is reheated.”
The science behind cutting down the calories
The report goes on to say that a cup of rice typically contains 240 calories, the trick to bringing down the calorie content is to tweak how the body digests it.
“Usually the starchy carbohydrates in rice are broken down in the small intestine where they become glucose and are eventually stored as fat. However, cooking rice with a teaspoon of coconut oil, and then chilling for 12 hours appears to make half of the carbohydrate indigestible so it passes through the body without becoming fat.”
If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!