Really Cold Rice Good for People with Diabetes

For diabetics, consumption of white rice may need to be limited in order to prevent an increase in blood sugar. To avoid these effects, there is an assumption that they should consume cold white rice. Is it true that cold rice is good for diabetics? Check out the following discussion! Diabetes mellitus is a disease that can cause high blood sugar levels. Foods that should be limited by diabetics are foods with a high glycemic index, and one of them is white rice. The glycemic index is a way to classify foods and drinks based on their speed in increasing blood sugar levels. The higher the glycemic index of a food or drink, the blood sugar level will increase faster after the food is consumed.

Benefits of consuming cold rice for diabetics

White rice is rich in starch or carbohydrates that can be digested and absorbed quickly by the small intestine, so that blood sugar levels will increase quickly. However, the starch can be converted into starch which is difficult to digest (resistant starch). How to change it is by storing cooked rice in the refrigerator at 4 ° C for 24 hours, then reheated before consumption. Starch substances that are more difficult to digest will reduce the amount of carbohydrates absorbed by the intestine. That is why, cold white rice that contains resistant starch is considered to have several benefits for diabetics, such as:

1. Helps control blood sugar levels

Cold white rice is shown to have a lower glycemic index than freshly cooked white rice. Therefore, replacing the intake of hot white rice with cold white rice can control blood sugar levels of diabetics.

2. Increase the production and performance of the hormone insulin

In patients with diabetes mellitus, especially type 2 diabetes, there is a disruption in the performance of the hormone insulin which functions to help blood sugar enter the cells to be converted into energy. Disorders of this hormone will cause sugar to accumulate in the blood, so that the levels increase. Resistant starch in cold white rice can improve insulin performance in fat tissue. Resistant starch that is difficult to digest in the small intestine will enter the large intestine and be converted to fatty acids, especially propionic acid, with the help of good bacteria in the small intestine. Propionic acid is what will improve the performance of the hormone insulin in fat tissue, so that blood sugar levels can be controlled.

3. Reducing cholesterol levels in the body

Several studies have shown that consuming resistant starch, such as that found in cold white rice, can reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body. However, this claim still needs to be further investigated, because so far, this effect has only been seen in laboratory animals.

4. Acts as a prebiotic

Resistant starch in cold white rice will enter the large intestine and act as a prebiotic. Prebiotics are formed from nutrients that cannot be digested and function as food for good bacteria in the large intestine. These good bacteria will protect the body from bad bacteria and fungi that can cause infections, and also play a role in suppressing the inflammatory process.

5. Make more full and not hungry fast

Because the levels of resistant starch in cold white rice are high, the digestion process tends to be slower. This will make you feel fuller and not hungry sooner. If consumed regularly, cold white rice might help you lose weight.

Things to Remember Before Eating Cold Rice

The notion that eating cold white rice is better for diabetics is actually true. However, there are several things that need to be considered before taking them, namely:

• Cold white rice must be consumed in the long run to get the effect of stabilizing blood sugar levels.
• White rice to be cooled must be placed in a clean container to prevent bacterial growth.
• Cold white rice needs to be reheated before consumption. In addition to making the texture more delicious to eat, the warming process can also kill bacteria in refrigerated rice.
• Cold white rice needs to be consumed together with healthy food for diabetics. Avoid sweet, fatty, high-calorie side dishes.

In addition to implementing a healthy diet, diabetics must also be diligent in undergoing treatment and routine control to the doctor. If necessary, you can consult your doctor further related to the benefits of cold white rice and other types of foods that are good for diabetics.