Rice flour: benefits and harm to the body

A slight change in the recipe can radically transform the dish, so if you are tired of the monotony in the menu or you want to improve the health of your body, try replacing the usual wheat flour with a rice counterpart. This product is recommended for those who are allergic to gluten, as well as those who want to lose extra pounds. Rice flour is rich in vitamins and nutrients, while it is light and pleasant for digestion. Learn more about this unusual product from our article.

Kinds of Rice Flour

Flour is made at home and industrial conditions, using different varieties of rice for this. The white and brown flour, which is prepared, respectively, from polished and bran rice, are fundamentally different. The caloric content of such a product does not actually differ, but the nutritional composition varies. Brown rice flour contains more valuable minerals, amino acids, and oils. Such a product is usually considered a dietary supplement, is carefully and briefly stored, and also has an order of magnitude higher cost.

White rice flour is more hardy and stable, however, it also has excellent nutritional qualities, so it is not necessary to regularly buy a brown delicacy product. You can alternate different types of rice flour in the diet to enrich the body with a supply of B vitamins and minerals to improve well-being, cleanse and improve your health.

How rice flour differs from wheat flour

One of the main advantages of rice flour over wheat and other white cereals is the lack of gluten. According to recent studies, gluten causes intestinal irritation in a large number of people, according to various sources, it is from 80 to 98% of the world's population.

People suffering from celiac disease - gluten intolerance, make up only 1% of the population (however, this indicator is also associated with the fact that the disease is almost not diagnosed in Russia, the CIS countries, Africa and several other countries). But those who are able to assimilate wheat components are susceptible and uncomfortable.

Gluten and similar proteins destroy intestinal villi, interfering with the normal absorption of beneficial elements. Because of this, toxins can form, metabolism is disturbed, and well-being worsens. Gluten often causes bloating, sensations similar to itching and burning, slowing peristalsis. There is no such protein in rice, in addition, it has a minimal amount of potential allergens, so rice flour is considered a dietary and safe food.

In addition, rice flour contains fewer calories, is absorbed faster and produces a sorbing effect, so it can improve well-being with diarrhea and poisoning, gastritis and other digestive disorders, in the diet of older people and on weight loss diets.

Which flour is better: rice or corn

Anyone who advocates a healthy diet and seeks to cleanse the body can safely enter into the diet both of these wheat flour analogs. Unlike oats, rye, barley and wheat, juicy corn and rice do not contain gluten and similar proteins, so they do not irritate the intestines and do not upset the metabolism.

Nevertheless, corn can also cause allergies, while rice is one of the safest cereals for the body.Rice has a sorbing effect, preventing diarrhea and poisoning, in addition, contains fewer calories and contributes to weight loss. Baking on rice flour does not actually harm the figure, it is quickly and easily digested, without causing heaviness and discomfort.

Rice contains less fat, unlike corn, and its only advantage is the presence of gold in the composition. Typically, it is rice cereal that is recommended on therapeutic diets, even for inflammatory diseases.

From a culinary point of view, it is more convenient to work with corn flour: it contains more starch, has a higher degree of viscosity when wet and remains dietary. From cornmeal, excellent baking of any format is obtained: from cookies to cakes. Therefore, rice and corn flour are often mixed in recipes for a healthy diet, and which one is better is a relative question: each of the products is good in its own way.

Composition and calorie content

Like other cereal products, rice flour has a high calorie content of approximately 360 kcal / 100 g. Depending on the rice variety, this indicator may vary slightly. It is impossible to call rice grinding definitely harmless for a figure, because cereals and flour contain about 80 g of carbohydrates, therefore it is worth consuming such a product in moderation - only then will the use of cereal bring no side effects in the form of fat deposits.

Protein rice flour contains about 6 g, and fat - up to 1.5, in brown flour these figures are only 1-1.5 g higher, and the level of carbohydrates is lower - 76 g.

Brown flour contains much more valuable amino acids and oils necessary for the proper functioning of the body. Both products are characterized by a high concentration of B vitamins, which are involved in the formation of immunity and healthy metabolism, and the normal functioning of internal organs. Also in rice there is a lot of vitamin E, which is needed to maintain water balance and skin health, the implementation of antioxidant and cleansing effects.

Nevertheless, rice is not rich in all vitamins: in white and brown flour there are no vitamins A and C, which are constantly needed by the body, therefore, experts recommend not to stick to rice-based mono-diets, but to use it in combination with other useful products to provide everyone with a body necessary.

Rice flour also includes copper and iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus, zinc manganese and selenium. The high content of copper and ferrum allows you to effectively regulate the work of the cardiovascular system and provide the body with the necessary amount of blood.

Rice flour has a significantly lower protein supply than other cereal powders. Therefore, in sports nutrition and during pregnancy, it must be combined with protein food.

What is useful rice flour

The main advantage of rice cereal is its sorption effect. Rice is more effective than other cereals in removing poisons and toxins from the body, undigested food debris, protein and fat breakdown products, excess fluid and even radionuclides. In the form of flour, this cereal has a massaging effect on the intestinal wall, activating blood flow and improving the digestion process.

Rice is used in diet food for many diseases:

1. For the treatment of the liver and the prevention of fibrosis, the removal of processed products and purifications.
2. With gastritis, diarrhea, flatulence and other disorders of the digestive system, including gluten intolerance. Rice is the most gentle cereal among its relatives, does not irritate the mucous membranes of internal organs, has an enveloping effect, is easily digested, without causing heartburn and bloating, a feeling of heaviness and other uncomfortable sensations.
3. From varicose veins and swelling. This flour is able to remove excess fluid from the body and protect the vessels, making them more elastic and strong.
4. For heart diseases, hypertension and atherosclerosis, rice flour will help to remove cholesterol, strengthen the heart muscle, normalize blood flow and improve tissue health.
5. Rice also helps cleanse the skin, relieve irritation, smooth out scars and irregularities, maintain water balance, and eliminate traces of fatigue and chronic stress.
6. Such flour will help strengthen bones, joints, nails and hair.
7. On diets, rice promotes rapid saturation, and “long” carbohydrates in its composition are digested slowly, for a long time nourishing the body with energy.

Rice is not recommended to be included in the diet in large quantities with a sedentary lifestyle, but with constant activity, it helps to regulate appetite and replenish strength. Rice flour is introduced into the diet of children and the elderly due to its hypoallergenicity.

The main healing properties of rice are:

1. Adsorption of negative elements, salts of heavy metals and toxins. Therefore, it is used during colds, after poisoning, drinking alcohol or a long course of antibiotics. Usually in such cases it is combined with probiotics, dairy products, chicken broth, healthy vegetables and fruits. It carefully removes poisons from the body without overloading the weakened digestive system and allowing it to recover faster.
2. Removal of excess fluid from the body, removal of edema.
3. Digestive system protection from upsets. Rice does not have gluten, gluten and similar proteins, so it does not cause fermentation, gas and discomfort in the intestines. Rice flour can be added to the food of children with still very sensitive intestines, the elderly and patients with pancreatitis, who may experience discomfort from heavy foods.
4. When applied externally, rice is able to deeply cleanse pores, give an exfoliating and whitening effect, reduce oily skin of the scalp and face, control the sebaceous glands, absorb unpleasant odor of sweat and nourish the skin and hair follicles, while preserving life-giving moisture. Therefore, rice flour is often used in home and salon cosmetology around the world.

Rice flour in baby food: benefit or harm

Rice products can be given to children in order to facilitate digestion. Nutritionists are sure to recommend diversifying the children's diet, and in the first years of life, dilute wheat and other components with rice flour.

In Asia and the West, rice flour has long been used as a safe thickener in mixtures for babies. Domestic producers also gradually began to support this trend in connection with new studies of the effect of cereals on the body and an increase in the number of allergic persons.

You can introduce rice flour after a year, after consulting with a pediatrician.

During colic, poisoning and other digestive disorders, rice will help the child's body cope with the disease faster and remove toxic substances.

The benefits and harms of rice flour for weight loss

On diets to reduce weight, rice becomes an indispensable component due to its soft fiber and “slow” carbohydrates. It effectively cleanses the intestines, binds excess fluid, and also supports strength throughout the day.

But there are 2 crucial aspects to consider:

1. You can’t lose weight only on rice. It, unlike many other products, contains an incomplete spectrum of vitamins, and the body may begin to lack the necessary substances. Rice is good for cleansing the body. Such diets can last 2-3 days, usually they include rice porridge cooked on water, or kefir cocktails with the addition of nutritious and healthy rice flour. Such cleaning is done once every six months - this is enough for a full-fledged detox, after which they begin a healthy balanced diet of "low carbohydrates", consuming a lot of proteins and vegetables with fruits.
2. There should not be many rice components, since such food remains energetically valuable. In one portion, there should be no more than 80 grams of rice flour, and it is desirable to combine it with moderately high-calorie foods, such as mashed vegetables, eggs and light dairy components.

Excessive consumption of rice during the diet can lead to constipation, dehydration or slow loss of excess weight.

Sometimes rice infusion is used to cleanse and strengthen the body. To do this, 2-3 tablespoons of rice flour are defended in a glass of water for several hours, stirring occasionally, after which they are filtered and drunk on an empty stomach. This provides an enveloping effect before consuming stiff fiber or acidic juices, so the body tolerates contact with aggressive components better.

Rice flour in medicine

Rice as one of the classic cereals on our table is recognized not only as traditional healers, but also as doctors as a useful food product. After suffering serious illnesses and, if necessary, following a strict diet, it is often recommended to introduce rice products into the diet, especially flour due to its soft consistency.

Rice is able to cleanse the body, saturate it with the necessary energy without harm to overall well-being.

With diabetes

Compared to other cereals, rice flour has a not too high glycemic index - 60 units, this allows you to effectively saturate the body without jumps in sugar levels, which is important for diabetics. However, one must be careful and consume such flour in limited quantities.

The GI is equal for both brown flour and light flour, however, you can focus on the use of a brown product to get more minerals from food. Mixing flour dishes with sweetness for diabetics is not recommended that the level of GI does not go beyond the average - 70 points.

Rice flour can be added to soups and sauces from low-calorie foods, broths, vegetable stews - this will increase the nutritional value of the dish and thicken the consistency, thereby quickly satisfying the feeling of hunger.

Replacing wheat and corn flour with rice for easier digestion will help to maintain a stable state of health, protect against excess weight gain, prevent the development of inflammatory processes, help to remove cholesterol from the blood, and also help keep the skin healthy.

With the use of rice, it is necessary to replenish the reserves of vitamins, since this product has the ability to remove all unnecessary from the body.

With pancreatitis

Digestive inflammation, including pancreatitis, requires a strict diet. For exacerbations of the disease, they recommend soft foods without excess sugar and fat, which will not overload the internal organs or irritate the mucous membranes. Rice flour is one of the safest foods: it helps calm the stomach and speed up recovery. In addition, rice is nutritious and helps to gain strength for the whole day.

It is flour that is used as food for inflammation and irritation of the digestive tract due to its soft consistency. On its basis, you can make cream soup with vegetable broth or mashed potatoes, porridge like semolina or kama. This will minimize the unpleasant consequences of eating and restore healthy body function.

Rice flour in cosmetology

Rice has been used externally for centuries to strengthen the skin, hair and nails, saturate them with calcium. Vitamin E is an indispensable element in the fight against the negative effects of the environment. It helps restore elasticity, a healthy water balance in the cells, trigger antioxidant processes and renewal, providing a rejuvenating effect and good protection.

From rice flour make:

1. Tinctures to wipe the skin from irritation, acne.
2. Tonics that help tighten the skin, smooth out irregularities, make its texture soft and delicate.
3. Hair conditioners that increase elasticity and remove the effect of electrification.
4. Scrubs for face and body, even for the most dry and sensitive skin, because rice flour of fine grinding has the softest texture and protects against allergic reactions.
5. Face and hair masks, wraps with the addition of honey, herbal infusions and essential oils, as well as massage mixtures that effectively draw out salts, warm the skin, helping to eliminate cellulite, rejuvenate, lighten the skin and renew cells.

Also, based on rice flour, they make excellent anti-wrinkle and age spots, relevant for aging skin and pregnancy.

Home-made rice potions are practically harmless and perfect for all skin types, reducing excess fat, moisturizing, restoring elasticity and combating rashes.

Such a component is added to industrial cosmetics. For many centuries, Asian recipes have been using ancient recipes, and today, European, Western producers have been preparing smart body care products with rice flour.

Rice flour masks for face
Light hypoallergenic masks from rice oatmeal are an excellent tool for gentle skin cleansing. They pull out all the dirt from the pores, relieve comedones, make the skin smooth and silky, retaining moisture in it and eliminating irritations. The effect of a rice mask is similar to a clay one, while such a product is much more affordable and always at hand, because you can grind flour at home.

1. For rejuvenation, mix 2 tsp. olive oil, 1 tsp honey, 2 tbsp flour and a little cream or sour cream to get a comfortable consistency. A mixture of oil and honey for the best effect can be preheated in a water bath. Apply the mask for 20 minutes, repeat the procedure 3 times a week for a month.
2. To make a gentle scrub, mix flour with water in a 1: 4 ratio, add a little soothing oil, such as lavender or calendula, and a small portion of shower gel, if you want to use a body scrub, or a cleansing milk. Such a soft scrub is suitable even for dry and sensitive skin.

Hair masks

1. To strengthen hair follicles and improve hair growth, as well as reduce scalp oiliness, you can dissolve 3-4 tablespoons of flour in warm water, insist a little, add a couple of drops of grapefruit oil and apply to hair, massaging the area near the roots. After a few minutes, the mask needs to be washed off with herbal broth or water with lemon juice - this will provide shine to the hair. Good advice: blondes can use rice flour as a dry shampoo. It absorbs excess fat well without burdening hair, and helps to get out of the situation in the absence of water.
2. A mask on coconut milk will help strengthen and nourish the hair. It is necessary to dissolve a little flour in it in a ratio of 3: 1, apply to wet hair and hold for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with a light solution of shampoo. Such a mask will help seal the ends and make the hair soft and docile.

Harm and contraindications

The product is considered virtually harmless, therefore, can be used in any diet. The only exception is the presence of an allergy to the rice product, which is extremely rare.

However, in order for rice flour to bring only benefit, several nuances must be taken into account.

1. Rice is a fixing product. If you have a tendency to constipation or hemorrhoids, it is better to limit its use.
2. Rice flour has an average calorie content, so dishes prepared with its addition should be eaten in small portions.
3. In cases of gastrointestinal diseases, renal failure and other acute ailments, you should consult your doctor about a diet with added rice.

How to make rice flour at home

In order not to overpay for branded products, you can make rice flour yourself. To do this, you can use a blender or coffee grinder, choosing the appropriate mode. Before processing, rice needs to be sorted, washed and dried on paper. Heat treatment of grain is not required.

How to choose and store rice flour

If you prefer to buy ready-made rice flour, pay attention to its packaging. It must be tight and tight so that the product does not absorb foreign odors and moisture. A cardboard bag in this case will not work.

The flour should be dry, without lumps, uniform and have a uniform color: white or a touch of burnt sugar for brown rice. Brown flour can be stored for about 5 months due to its high oil content and natural moisture. Therefore, pay attention to the expiration date indicated on the package. There are no strict deadlines for white flour.

If the flour lies in your open form for a long time or has accumulated moisture, it can be calcined, thereby prolonging its suitability. But if there is an unpleasant musty smell, it is better to throw the product away.

Keeping flour in an open bag is not recommended. It is best to pour it into a glass, ceramic or plastic jar with a tight-fitting lid to protect the product from moisture. Flour mites or fungi can cause allergic reactions in the body, so avoid spoiling the flour product.

What can be cooked from rice flour: recipes

Baking from rice flour in its pure form does not work, since there are no plastic properties in the cereal. Therefore, the dough is planted on eggs or with the addition of starch. Corn option is best. The addition of bananas or a mixture with flour from other grains may also help.

Gluten Free Rice Pancakes

To prepare a diet snack, you will need:

• rice flour - 250 g;
• table starch - 25 g;
• sugar - 50 g;
• milk - 0.5 l;
• vegetable oil - 45 ml;
• chicken eggs - 2 pcs.;
• salt to taste.

Healthy nutritionists also use coconut milk in this recipe. The principle of preparation is like with ordinary pancakes.

Cheesecakes for vegans

You will need 1 banana, 200 g of tofu, 1.5–2 tablespoons of rice flour, salt, sugar and cinnamon to taste. Cheese and banana need to be grated or milled with a fork, then introduce flour and spices, kneading the dough. Cheese pancakes are fried in oil for a couple of minutes, the recipe is suitable for breakfast.

Rice Cookies from Asia
To make an unusual dessert you will need:

• icing sugar - 125-150 g;
• rice flour - 100 g;
• chicken egg - 1 pc.;
• hazelnuts - 45 g;
• half a spoon of baking powder;
• fresh grated ginger - 2 tbsp.

First you need to beat eggs with sugar, then add grated nut and ginger, dry products, mix everything thoroughly and roll neat balls from the dough. Cookies are baked on a greased baking sheet for 10-15 minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees.

Dessert bread is prepared as follows: 2 parts of butter, 2 - of wheat flour, 1 part of rice flour and 1 part of brown sugar. First, beat the butter with sugar, then introduce the sifted flour, kneading the dough, cool it for about half an hour. Then 2 sheets are made from the dough, cut with a knife, like pizza, into 6-8 parts, spread one layer on a baking sheet, sprinkle with sugar, cover with a second layer and bake for about 20 minutes. After that, the triangles are separated from each other and allowed to cool the bread.

Fritters

For pancakes, you need to take 1.5 cups of rice and 2 tbsp. flax flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 2 eggs and a half cup of milk.

To make tortillas, you need to mix 1 egg, a teaspoon of vegetable oil, a spoonful of sugar and salt, 350 grams of flour, 2/3 cup of water. Thin round sheets are rolled out from the resulting dough and fry them in a greased pan, after which any filling can be wrapped in them.

Banana muffins

Banana muffins on rice flour can be prepared from the following components: banana pulp - 80 g, rice flour - 50 g, a spoon of low-fat yogurt, 1 egg, half a spoon of baking powder and vanilla to taste. Bake muffins for about 20 minutes.

Interesting facts about rice

1. Rice is a very durable material. During the feud between China and the Mongol tribes, during the construction of the Great Wall of China, rice flour was added to the mortar to make it stronger. The same technology was used for many years in the construction of houses and the creation of bricks.
2. In health food stores you can find flour from wild black rice. You need to understand that this is the name of the plant, which in fact has nothing to do with the original cereal, so the beneficial properties of rice will not apply to black flour.
3. For many centuries, rice flour has been used as an antibacterial powder. The geisha began this tradition, after which it was picked up by aristocrats, artists, and then all the beauties of Asia. Today, rice flour can be found among the components of powder products. It keeps pores tight, protects the skin from impurities and relieves irritation.

Rice flour is a completely safe and affordable product that will help maintain health and diversify the diet, so try new recipes with pleasure!

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