American Nutrition Association says that the previous day’s soaked rice is the best for the breakfast, used to be the stable diet in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
RICE: Traditionally, rice is cooked in the afternoon and the excess water is drained. After the rice cools down to room temperature, it is soaked fully in water and stored in an earthen clay pot. This covered rice pot with soaked rice is left overnight at regular room temperature. The rice would ferment by the next morning and consumed as breakfast. Traditionally, it is eaten with a side dish, raw onion or green chili. Some people prefer to drain the excess water and eat it with curd and a slight sprinkle of salt.
The lactic acid bacteria break down the anti-nutritional factors in the rice, resulting in an improved bio-availability of micro nutrients and minerals such as iron, potassium and calcium. For instance, after 12 hours of fermentation of 100 grams of rice, the presence of iron content changes from 3.4 mg to 73.91 mg.
In the agrarian communities of South East Asia, fermented rice played a vital role in the lives of people. It gives enormous energy, nutrients and cooling effect that is required for a full day of manual labor. Unfortunately, people moving up the food chain looked down on fermented rice as the pauper’s food and ignored the great nutritional value it provides.
Food scientists who researched on the food practices among various regions in the world and concluded that the South Asia’s tradition of consuming the previous day’s cooked rice soaked in plain water overnight, in the morning next day, as breakfast is the best. It has the rare B6, B12 vitamins which are not otherwise easily available in other food supplements. This rice generates and harbors millions of beneficial good bacteria that helps in digestion and has many disease fighting and immunity developing agents. The bacteria that grow in the intestine due to this rice safeguard the internal organs and keeps our body healthy. Consuming this rice helps quicker digestion and wards off ageing, bone related ailments and muscular pains. Brown rice is the best for this as its nutrients are retained intact.
AMERICAN NUTRITION ASSOCIATION has listed the following benefits, if you stick to the regular practice of consuming of fermented rice
- Consuming fermented rice as breakfast keeps the body light and energetic.
- Stomach aliments disappear when it’s consumed in the morning as excessive and harmful heat retained in the body is neutralized.
- As this food is very fibrous, it heals constipation and also dullness in the body.
- Blood pressure is normalized and hypertension subsides appreciably.
- Body feels less tired due to this food as a result of which one feels fresh throughout the day.
- This removes all types of ulcers in the body.
- It removes allergy induced problems and also skin related ailments.
- Fresh infections are kept at bay due to consuming this rice.
- It helps in maintaining youthful and radiant look.
Consuming this takes away your body’s craving for tea or coffee. This is the richest source of vitamin B12 for vegans. So,please don’t throw away the extra rice in home. It could be the healthiest breakfast you will ever have. So, eat healthy and stay fit.
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