Throughout the planet, women are looking for the best beauty secrets from other cultures, and what better than an Asian beauty classic: rice water.
Rice water is an ancient Asian secret not only for its skin-improving properties, but also for its health properties.
Asians have used the water left in the boiled rice cooker for centuries as a hair and skin treatment, and even for health benefits.
We recommend that you take note as in this article we are going to show you what rice water is for, its benefits and how to make rice water.
Rice water benefits
On its own, rice water is an age-old secret for diarrhea and indigestion as it promotes intestinal health, it also promotes overall health as it has many benefits.
Also, rice water is an incredible ally for beauty. Did you know that rice water is perfect for the skin? Here we will show you some of the benefits of rice water:
1. Regulates blood pressure
Believe it or not, rice water can be very effective in managing blood pressure. This is because rice water has fiber and potassium that can help regulate blood pressure.
A study published in the American Heart Association shows that eating foods rich in potassium can reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
While white rice isn’t as high in potassium as avocado or banana, it does have 17 milligrams. Ingesting it in liquid form is easier than consuming large amounts of food to reach the daily intake.
2. Protects the cardiovascular system
Being beneficial for controlling blood pressure, this also makes it a good supplement to protect the cardiovascular system, since rice also has a component that inhibits a hormone called angiotensin that causes blood vessels to narrow and excess build up. of sodium in the blood.
3. Boosts the immune system
One of the best benefits of rice water is that it boosts the immune system thanks to the nutrients found in rice such as iron, B vitamins, and niacin, among others.
When you prepare rice water, many of the nutrients contained in the grain are captured in the water. Naturally, these nutrients positively affect all types of cells, including those of your immune system.
4. Improves intestinal transit
A clinical study published in the medical bulletin of the Children’s Hospital of Mexico maintains that brown rice water is very useful for combating stomach ailments.
They also maintain that rice water significantly reduces the symptoms of stomach upset and decreases bowel movements, which is why it is recommended to combat diarrhea and improve digestion.
5. Relieves diarrhea, gastritis and gastroenteritis
Thanks to its ability to improve digestion, rice water is also a great option to relieve all intestinal and stomach conditions such as diarrhea, gastritis and gastroenteritis.
In a comparative study carried out by the world health organization in Dubai, the positive effects of rice water on infants suffering from different ailments related to the digestive tract were analyzed.
The study involved two groups of children, one group receiving rice water while the other was given electrolyte water.
The study concluded that the group that had consumed the rice water noted significant improvements, especially in the reduction of diarrhea, which was reduced by more than half compared to the group that received the electrolyte water.
6. Contributes to weight loss
The nutrients present in rice water assist in weight loss. Drinking the rice water before meals will substantially increase your level of satiety at mealtime, so you will naturally notice a reduced appetite and therefore may end up consuming fewer calories.
The only way to burn fat is through a caloric deficit, that is, you consume fewer calories than you burn. Therefore, rice water can help you reach your caloric goals.
7. Reduces headaches and migraines
The American Migraine Foundation states that some of the vitamins in rice, such as the B vitamin, can help reduce and even prevent headaches and migraines.
8. Prevents dehydration
We all know that water helps us stay hydrated, but sometimes water alone is not enough, many times our body requires nutrients or electrolytes.
You can prevent dehydration, especially if you also have diarrhea or vomiting, with rice water.
When you have diarrhea, if left unchecked, it can cause rapid dehydration. Rice water will not only keep you hydrated, but it will also provide you with necessary nutrients and help you fight diarrhea.
9. Slows down aging
Have you ever wondered why Asian women have amazing skin? Although, in large part, it is due to genetics, Asian women follow a culture that, in addition to promoting healthy foods, has ancient beauty secrets.
One of their secrets to keep skin fresh, youthful and radiant is rice water, which they use as a toner.
Dermatologists note that rice water can help moisturize and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also has the potential to help with hyperpigmentation (such as sun spots that appear with age).
A study published by Hindawi in 2013 suggests that rice water may also improve signs of sun damage.
10. Improves facial skin and hair
Rice water is one of the most used tonics in China and Japan by women, both to improve the appearance of the skin and hair.
Regular use of rice water has many benefits for hair, as it helps to eliminate dandruff, strengthen hair, stimulate growth, add volume, and improve its appearance.
The reason why rice water is beneficial for hair and skin is because the composition of rice water is rich in vitamins B and C.
It also contains potassium, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, manganese and fiber. It’s like a kind of nutrient cocktail to nourish the follicles and repair damaged cells.
How to prepare rice water?
The way in which you prepare the rice water will depend on what you want to use it for. It will not be the same to prepare rice water to drink than to put in your hair. Below we show you the rice water recipes for different uses:
Rice water for diarrhea and upset stomach
To improve the symptoms of diarrhea or stomach ailments, follow the following instructions published in the official bulletin of the Children’s Hospital of Mexico.
Ingredients
- 6 cups of water
- ½ cup of white rice
Preparation
- Bring the water to a boil with the rice.
- Once it boils, remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Strain the water and serve.
Rice water as a refreshing drink
This recipe is ideal for using rice water as a kind of post or pre-workout drink.
Ingredients
- 6 cups of water
- 1 cups of white rice
- 2 cups of milk
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup of sugar
Preparation
- Bring all the ingredients to a boil together.
- Once it has boiled, remove from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Strain and let cool.
Rice water for skin and hair
This recipe is ideal to use as a tonic. You can apply it to your skin with a cotton pad before going to bed or to your hair before rinsing in the shower.
Ingredients
- 1 glass of water
- ½ cup of white rice
Preparation
- Boil the rice together with the water
- Once it has boiled, remove from the heat and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Allow the mixture to cool before pouring it into a bottle.
Application on the face
With the help of a cotton pad, put rice water on your clean face as if it were a toner and let it act for 15 minutes. Then rinse with lukewarm water.
hair application
After washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner as usual, add a good amount of rice water and let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.