Rice Battle – Which One Wins for Everyday Nutrition?

Rice is medicine in Ayurveda. Also known as Anna, it is the first food mentioned in Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, it is the lightest food to digest and has a sweet taste. It is a nourishing food, which is cooling in nature. Rice can also be with vegetables, pulses and nuts to make it healthier and more nutritious. It is one of the staple foods in many countries across the world, including India. It is an essential part of the Indian diet and symbolizes fertility, wealth and good health.   Vata,   Pitta   and  Kapha Many people consider it good for balancing Vata and Pitta, two of the three doshas. However, the nature of rice, which creates excess mucus in the body, makes overconsumption of it not considered ideal for Kapha. Eat rice that cooks well in plenty of water with a dollop of ghee added to balance Vata. Desserts prepared with rice and milk have a cooling nature, so you can consume them to balance Pitta. To balance Kapha, consuming a smaller quantity of it is recommended.  If you are trying to balance Kapha in your body, dry roast the rice before cooking it in water to consume. According to Ayurveda, anytime is a good time to consume rice. Ayurveda recommends the consumption of old rice as It has an amazing healing effect on the body . There are also other different varieties of it, such as basmati , polished , unpolished , boiled , parboiled , etc.   Nutrition   Modern nutrition considers brown rice to be healthier as it is unprocessed, and comes with more nutrition and vitamins than other varities of it.  It also has a lower glycemic index compared to the other types. However, Ayurveda prefers white over brown for daily consumption. Ayurveda is all about digestion. According to Ayurveda, the best time gap between meals is 1 Prahara, which is approximately three hours. Any food that stays in our body for more than 3 hours gets converted to undigested toxic waste or Ama. A rice with husk, for example, brown rice, has fibre in it. Any types without husk or lesser fibre content, such as white rice, digest easily and exit the system. Therefore, people find white rice to be light, easily digestible, recommended for daily consumption (nityasevaneeya), and they consider it a superior food.   How to cook it in the right way?   Here is the traditional Ayurvedic way of cooking rice. Wash rice in water until the water runs clear. Sona Masoori and Ambe Mohar are the most recommended  for everyday use. Basmati is comparatively heavier and therefore, can be used once or twice a month. Then, soak it for at least an hour. Meanwhile, boil water. You can take the water twice or thrice the quantity of it. Once the water boils, add soaked rice to it, and cook it covered. When it bubbles, remove the cover and cook it until it turns soft. You can then strain the water out. Enjoy the it with a side of dal and cooked vegetables. You can join our Health Programs for mind and body detox. And If you are struggling with any health issues, you can book a consultation with us or give us a message via WhatsApp at +91 79074 89839. If you have any queries, contact us. You can also follow me on Instagram.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            … Continue reading Rice Battle – Which One Wins for Everyday Nutrition?

Rice Done Right !

I get asked this question a lot by my non-Indian patients. Here is the traditional Ayurvedic way of cooking rice. Rice is a medicine in Ayurveda. It is the lightest food for digestion and also the first food mentioned in Ayurveda. But, how to cook it ? Here’s a step by step for y’all.   Step 1: Soak rice for at least about an hour. I recommend Sona Masoori or Ambe Mohar varieties for everyday use.   Step 2: Boil Water You can take twice or thrice the quantity of rice.   Step 3: Add soaked rice to boiling water. Cook covered.   Step 4: Cook till bubbles. Once it bubbles, remove the cover and cook rice until it turns soft.   Step 5: Strain the excess water out. Enjoy with a side of daal and cooked vegetables.       Doctor Rekha is a 4th generation Ayurvedic Medicine Doctor (BAMS) living in between Dubai and India who has patients from around the globe who believes that the wisdom of Ayurveda can help everyone lead a happy, healthy and disease-free life. You can join our Health Programs for mind and body detox. And If you are struggling with any health issues, you can book a consultation with us or give us a message via WhatsApp at +91 79074 89839. If you have any queries, contact us. You can also follow me on Instagram.