White rice provides a significant amount of carbs and calories to fuel the body. However, eating too much white rice can lead to weight gain. More and more people are reducing their white rice intake, and some even avoid it entirely during meals.
However, cutting out white rice completely isn’t necessary. Rice still provides essential nutrients, especially starch. Without enough starch, the body may lack energy, and the brain might not function optimally.
Instead of eliminating white rice from your diet, it’s important to focus on consuming it in moderation and adjusting your diet to be healthier overall.
One method thought to reduce the carb and calorie content of white rice while offering health benefits is cooking rice with coconut oil.
How to Cook Rice with Coconut Oil
Use the amount of rice you need. Rinse the rice twice to remove dirt, but don’t wash it too vigorously, as that can strip away some of its outer nutrients. Place the rice in the pot, add one tablespoon of coconut oil, pour in enough boiling water, and start cooking.
Once the rice is cooked, transfer it into a container, cover it tightly, and store it in the fridge for 10-12 hours. Finally, reheat the rice and eat as usual.
Why Add a Spoonful of Coconut Oil When Cooking Rice?
• Supports Weight Loss
Cooking rice with coconut oil and refrigerating it before consumption alters the chemical composition of the rice. This process can reduce its calorie content by 10%-50%, depending on the type of rice used.
• Prevents Blood Sugar Spikes
Coconut oil is considered a healthy fat. Eating white rice typically raises blood sugar levels after meals. Adding coconut oil during the cooking process helps minimize rice’s impact on blood sugar.
• Creates Resistant Starch
Cooking rice with coconut oil and chilling it before eating helps convert digestible starch into resistant starch. This type of starch takes longer to digest, helping to prevent fat accumulation in the body.
• Promotes Gut Health
Rice cooked with coconut oil can act as a prebiotic. Both prebiotics and probiotics are beneficial for gut health and can boost the immune system.
Additional Rice Cooking Tips
• Add White Vinegar
When cooking rice, you can add some white vinegar. It helps the rice become more tender, preserves its color, gives it a natural sweetness, and helps it last longer. For each kilogram of rice, just mix in 2ml of vinegar.
• Add Salt
Adding a bit of salt while cooking rice can enhance its flavor and help it stay fresh longer.
For leftover rice, adding a bit of diluted saltwater and mixing it before reheating can remove any strange odors, making the rice taste as fresh as newly cooked.
• Add Sesame Oi
Before cooking rice, you can mix in a bit of sesame oil. This oil gives the rice a shiny appearance and an enticing aroma.