Curious

• Rice helps us have a better memory

Rice has long been known as dietetic product, which is very useful in cases of gastric and intestinal problems. The white grains have a high level of vitamins of the B, E, PP groups and essential for the organism minerals – potassium, copper, selenium, zinc.
Every 100 g rice contain 4 g proteins. It contains in abundance complex carbohydrates, which are accumulated in muscles and release energy then, when really we need it.
Recently Japanese scientists have discovered another useful quality of rice – its regular use can boost our memory. In addition, rice has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and maintains energy balance of the body.
To always have delicious rice do not cook it in water but in broth, advise Japanese chefs. This is an absolute must if you are preparing paella or risotto. And if you soak rice for 2 hours, it will become even more delicious.

• Healing properties of the rice

If you regularly eat rice, this will protect you from many chronic diseases, and will also significantly improve your looks. Rice contains vitamins of the B group, which are essential for the nervous system, for the beautiful hair and healthy nails.
This vitamin is an important and necessary element in metabolic processes. Rice contains essential amino acids, which help the formation of new cells.
Rice contains proteins, and in addition – potassium, zinc, iron, iodine and calcium. Rice is very good for people who want to lose weight. However, one should not eat too much rice, because it also contains sodium.
Rice is very nourishing because of the starch content. Rice contains many vitamins and also selenium.
Rice is good for the lungs, rice decoction is used in the treatment of bronchitis and bronchial asthma.
Rice affects well the stomach and the intestines. Rice decoction stops diarrhea, and cooked in fresh milk it purifies intestines. Rice, cooked with a little bit of butter, is very good for the stomach.
Rice is used as antitoxic and reducing the temperature remedy in cases of sore throat, flu and pneumonia. For this purpose peppermint is added to rice decoction.
Rice calms the nervous system. In addition, it restores biochemical balance of the body. Rice is good for diseases of the kidneys and bladder. Rice consumption is good for purification of the stomach, intestines, reproductive system, joints and tissues.
After illness rice restores appetite. Complete purification of the body with rice can be done for two weeks or a month. The course of treatment requires as many spoons of rice as old you are.
Rice is poured into a large jar, it is covered with cold boiled water and is left in the refrigerator. Each morning some of the water is poured out and one overflowed spoon of rice is taken and eaten on an empty stomach after boiling it with water only. After consumption of the cooked rice 1 hour you should not eat or drink anything.
Make up some boiled cold water in the jar and return in the refrigerator. The procedure is repeated every day until you eat the whole of the rice.

• Why brown rice is more wholesome

According to recent researches of US scientists, consumption of brown rice reduces the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. In this rice they have discovered a substance, which can be found between the husk and the grain and it is extremely rich in fiber and oligosaccharides. It is exactly they that protect heart from diseases.
This rice is am excellent source of iron, magnesium, manganese, vegetable fiber and proteins. It also contains vitamins of the B group – 10 times more than the white rice.
One of the most important qualities of brown rice is its ability to decrease cholesterol and protect the body from diseases associated with it, as well as from formation of clots.
Specialists also recommend brown rice to diabetics because it reduces the level of blood sugar. It is claimed that one to two servings a week are sufficient for prevention of diabetes. 50 g rice are sufficient for stimulating intestinal functions and protect from pancreas and stomach cancer.
Magnesium content in brown rice helps improve the activities of the nervous system, and it also reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
When you buy brown rice you need to know that its storage and preparation are slightly different to those of white rice. Brown rice contains oils, which in the course of time are oxidized and become harmful. Pour the rice in an airtight container and store it in the camera of the refrigerator. Thus it can be stored up to two years. In the fridge brown rice will be good for use up to 6 months. Residues of food prepared with brown rice you must again keep in the fridge, but at most for two days.
An important difference in the preparation of brown rice is that the only thing that is removed from it is the non-edible husk around the grain. When cooking white rice it is stripped off its upper layers, which are the most rich in useful substances.
Brown rice is the richest in nutrients form of rice. It has a strong scent, and its cooking time is a little longer – 45 minutes.

• Proper boiling of the rice

Rice is used in the cuisine of many nations. In most cases rice is boiled. In order to properly boil rice you need one part rice and two parts water, salt and a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid.
There are many different types of rice that has a different consistency when boiled. Rice, prepared according to the classical recipe, can play the part of a separate dish or an ingredient in complex recipes.
Wash the rice very well until the water that remains after it is completely clear. Murky water means that rice contains much starch, which makes it sticky when boiling.
Boil some water, add salt, pour the rice and close the saucepan with a lid. Do not open the lid and do not stir the rice. Cook the rice for five minutes over high heat.
Then reduce the heat to medium and cook for two minutes. The last two minutes of rice boiling must be over a very low heat. Then turn off the heat.
Do not remove the saucepan and do not open the lid for ten more minutes. Then open the lid and you will find in the saucepan the rice ready, each grain separate from the others.
The good thing about this method of cooking is that rice does not burn while boiling, which also means that you do not have to remove the burned.
Serve the cooked rice with the sauce from grilled meat, to which you have added spices to taste and finely chopped green spices.
You can prepare sauce for rice by finely chopping chicken meat and frying it, then adding onions and tomato paste and stewing it until the meat is soft.

• Fitness

The qualities of this plant are still not sufficiently appreciated by both the general consumer and the athletes. Rice is extremely rich in complex carbohydrates, and they are the main energy source for the organism. The warning that starch contained in rice is the cause for accumulation of subcutaneous fat is simply without any ground.
When human body is under intensive strain, it uses mainly carbohydrates to cover its energy needs. You can calculate for yourselves – half a cup of rice contains 100 calories, around 20 g carbohydrates, 2 g protein, and less than a gram fats, only be careful – not a bowl, a cup. Of course the most appropriate is brown rice, which has long been on the Bulgarian market. It is a natural source of thiamin, niacin, it is rich in  vitamin B6, fibers. It contains iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium chromium. The content of vitamin E in brown rice is significantly greater than in white rice, even when enriched.
Why is rice, particularly brown rice, such a good food, even for people on a strict diet?
It has a very low glycemic index, i.e. it is absorbed slowly and has a moderate effect on the rise of blood sugar. According to the scale (GI) foods are divided into three main groups – with low, medium and high glycemic index (GI). Those with high GI are absorbed quickly, but the sense of satiety is brief. If you have to control your weight, for you it is better to select high carbohydrate food and brown rice is quite suitable. It has only one disadvantage in comparison with white rice – it is prepared considerably slower, but you know there are refrigerators. And so – you buy a bag of brown rice. Do not leave it in a warm place, because while in a small quantity, fats can become rancid, and this results not only in a deterioration in taste. Store it in the refrigerator or directly cook it. You can also boil a larger quantity, since when cooked and placed in the fridge, brown rice can last 6-7 days without changing its properties. Be aware of the following: 1 cup of brown rice /dry weight/ is covered with 2-2.5 cups of water. In contrast to white rice, which is boiled for 15 minutes, brown rice needs 45-50 minutes to soften completely. The procedure is slow, but justified. You can use some salt for flavoring at the start of boiling, but as with any diet – you should be careful with salt, the less the better.
Finally, with a smile but still seriously we remind – it is not about a pork steak garnished with brown rice, nor to replace white with brown rice in the traditional dessert “milk with rice”. We are talking about dietetic nutrition for people who wish to reduce their weight, and for athletes, whose purpose is to eliminate any unnecessary fats. Just how much rice you must eat, you can calculate for yourselves using a calorie calculator and having in mind the following:

                                       IN HALF A CUP OF BOILED RICE