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I love to eat rice in the summers as it is very light and easy to digest. I eat it both for lunch as well as dinner. Can this be bad for health? What else can I eat in these months?
The first rule of eating healthy is to have a balanced diet. Anything even it is healthy if eaten in excess can have some repercussions. Though rice is easy to digest, you need to limit the quantity. Just eating rice with some curry twice a day can mean that you are not getting all the essential nutrients. Also, what rice are you eating? Is it white or brown?
Brown rice is better for health. This is because 'Brown rice is unmilled wherein only the husk of the rice is removed. The bran and the germ are intact. White rice on the other hand is obtained by milling, i.e. by removing the bran and germ. As a result, as compared to white rice, brown rice is rich in fibre, magnesium, selenium and essential fatty acids,' says nutritionist Dr Neha Sanwalka.
White rice on the other hand can increase one's blood sugar levels quite quickly as its glycemic index is high. It is also wise to eat rice during the day, for lunch. 'If someone wants to have white rice, it's better to have it during the day or at a time when maximum activity/workout is done. That way, one can make sure that the body will burn it and not store it as fat,' advises nutritionist Priya Kathpal.
The summer months definitely call for something light and fresh. You should eat seasonal vegetables. Some examples are -- cucumber, tomato, pumpkin, bottle gourd, etc. These are easy to digest as well. Have them with chapattis. Since dinner should be your lightest meal of the day, you can also opt for a salad and soup combo. This won't be too heavy to digest yet keep you full. Dietician Neha Chandna recommends the following:
Stir fried veggies/chilled soups + grilled chicken/steamed fish/low-fat paneer/tofu + jaljeera/lemon juice
Make it a point to eat something from different food groups such as carbs, protein and even fats albeit in a balanced manner. In the summer, pick up seasonal fruits and vegetables which are soothing for the stomach and restrict eating too much meat especially red meat, more so in the night.
Track calories in Indian food items using Healthifyme calorie counter
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