Do you ever have leftover rice that you reheat and eat for the next meal? I used to do that too, and it tasted pretty good. But now, I don't dare to do it anymore because it turns out that doing this regularly can actually lead to stomach problems. So why is that? Let's take a closer look together!
How does the human body absorb rice?
The main component of rice is starch, and the digestion process in the human body is as follows: firstly, the salivary amylase in the mouth breaks down the starch into dextrin and maltose.
Next, when the dextrin and maltose enter the small intestine, they are further broken down into monosaccharides by pancreatic amylase and disaccharidases secreted by the pancreas. These monosaccharides are then absorbed by the intestinal mucosal cells to provide nutrients for the body.
Now let's take a look at starch. When it is heated above 60°C, it gradually becomes a paste, a process called "gelatinization".
The digestive enzymes in the human body can easily hydrolyze the gelatinized starch molecule structure, converting it into easily absorbable components for the body.
Why does eating leftover rice trigger stomach problems?
After the gelatinized starch cools down, its molecules will rearrange and release moisture, a process known as starch "retrogradation".
Even if the retrograded starch is reheated, even at high temperatures, it cannot restore the molecular structure it had during gelatinization. As a result, the body's ability to hydrolyze and digest it is greatly reduced.
Therefore, eating reheated leftover rice for a long time can easily lead to indigestion and stomach problems.
Foods to eat for stomach problems
1. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes can tonify the spleen, invigorate qi, aid digestion, and eliminate food accumulation. Many people know that eating sweet potatoes can cause flatulence, which is actually the result of gastrointestinal peristalsis.
2. Longan
There is a saying: "Litchi is beautiful for food, while longan is beneficial for health." Unlike litchi, longan can be used in medicine and has various effects such as tonifying yang and qi, warming the stomach, and tonifying the spleen.
3. Apples
Apples can invigorate the spleen and replenish qi. They are also good for appetite and can moisten dryness. They can regulate gastrointestinal function, prevent constipation, and are suitable for those with weak spleen and stomach, deficient stomach yin, and yin-deficiency stomach pain.
4. Papaya
Papaya has anti-aging and beauty-enhancing effects, promotes breast enlargement and beauty, soothes the liver and stomach, and relaxes muscles and tendons. Papaya contains an enzyme that can digest protein, which is beneficial for the digestion and absorption of food, making it effective for tonifying the spleen and stomach and aiding digestion.
5. Carrots
Carrots are known as "little ginseng". Carrots contain carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A. They can improve eyesight, enhance resistance, prevent respiratory diseases, and when cooked with meat, they have a hepatoprotective and stomach-nourishing effect.
