Many people are always torn between drinking porridge or eating rice to lose weight. Some people say that porridge has low calories and can easily help you lose weight by replacing regular meals. But others say that porridge has low calories and doesn't keep you full for long, so you end up feeling hungry and unable to lose weight. So, is it better to drink porridge or eat rice for weight loss? Let's explore this topic together.
Is it better to drink porridge or eat rice for weight loss?
Comparing porridge and rice is quite simple because porridge is made by cooking rice with water.
Let's compare their calories: The calorie content of 100g of porridge is definitely lower than that of 100g of rice because porridge contains more water, and water itself has no calories.
Let's compare their satiety: This varies from person to person. Some people feel that rice is more filling, while others feel that drinking porridge can easily fill their stomachs, but they get hungry again after going to the restroom...
Overall, when consuming the same amount of calories from rice and porridge, porridge is more satiating. This means that drinking porridge is suitable for weight loss. However, you should avoid the following pitfalls:
Is white rice porridge equal to eating white sugar?
I believe many health-conscious individuals have heard that drinking white rice porridge is equivalent to eating white sugar.
This is because rice already has a high glycemic index, and the process of cooking porridge allows nutrients to be fully extracted. Therefore, after consuming white rice porridge, just like eating white sugar, blood sugar levels rise and insulin is secreted excessively.
This characteristic makes white rice porridge very easy to digest and leads to feeling hungry quickly. So, during weight loss, it is better to drink porridge made from whole grains, which ensures the absorption of nutrients and fiber and maintains stable blood sugar levels.
What porridge is best for weight loss?
1. Red bean porridge:
I always worry when I hear people say that drinking red bean porridge can eliminate dampness. Before I had my own kitchen, I didn't know that the red beans used for eliminating dampness are not actually red beans, but a variety called "adzuki beans" or "small red beans."
There is a poem by Wang Wei that says, "Red beans grow in the southern country." In fact, the red beans mentioned here are toxic and called "rosary pea." There are two types of edible red beans: one is cylindrical in shape and is commonly used to make red bean paste; the other is smaller and slender, known as adzuki beans, which have diuretic and anti-edema effects.
2. Winter melon porridge:
Winter melon porridge is also suitable for weight loss in summer because winter melon has diuretic and anti-edema properties, can clear heat and quench thirst, and can help with weight loss and reducing cholesterol. Moreover, in summer when there is a lot of heat, eating more winter melon can help reduce internal heat.
The preparation of winter melon porridge is very simple. Just cook fresh winter melon with the skin (important) along with brown rice, glutinous rice, or oat rice. If you prefer savory porridge, you can also add some dried shrimps while cooking, without adding too much salt. It is very suitable for drinking on summer nights.
