Is rice good for weight loss?

Just wondering what your thoughts are on rice for weight loss. I know that there is rice diets out there. I guess I am just wondering has any used rice on a daily basis? Only asking because I had white rice this morning for breakfast and just got to thinking about it......
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Replies

  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    It is a calorie dense food so depends on how much you eat ;)

    I doubt white rice helps that much with weight loss but in the end it still boils down to calories in / calories out.
  • waterwing
    waterwing Posts: 214 Member
    NO! White rice is not good for weight loss at all.. too high in carbs.. shoots the blood sugar levels up and basically doesn't actually have much nutritional value.
    Brown rice is a little bit better but unless you have a metabolism that is used to rice and needs it for digestive purposes.. avoid the white stuff!
  • If you are in a calorie deficit.
  • pithynutritionpun
    pithynutritionpun Posts: 17 Member
    If you like rice, eat rice, fitting it into your macronutrient goals. If you don't particularly care for rice, don't eat rice. It's no better or worse than any other food for weight loss, relatively speaking.
  • it's only the lack in fiber that makes brown rice a better choice. White rice isn't truly bad at all.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,257 Member
    Most of the world eats white rice, and only when white rice hit North America's shores has it been demonized as white death......too many carbs and it's er, white.
  • BonnieandClyde29
    BonnieandClyde29 Posts: 1,026 Member
    i eat white rice almost every other night for dinner but i only eat a 1/2 cup to 3/4 of a cup with some low sodium black beans, it is not bad on calories, and it helps out A LOT with sodium. you would be surprised how much sodium is in a lot of food, and how much food is processed, i couldnt believe it at first, but that is why i will eat white rice, just in moderation though.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    NO! White rice is not good for weight loss at all.. too high in carbs.. shoots the blood sugar levels up and basically doesn't actually have much nutritional value.
    Brown rice is a little bit better but unless you have a metabolism that is used to rice and needs it for digestive purposes.. avoid the white stuff!




    I live in Asia.. and I have noticed that when I eat lots of rice.. I gain weight..

    the broscience is strong in this one
  • I generally am under in my calories MFP gives me 1300 I am lucky if I hit 1000 everyday . For my carbs I generally have between 50-100 a day so my carbs are generally under as well. I usually don't eat it because everyone is always saying how bad it is for you. But I just happened to come across articles saying it isn't bad for you, along with the others saying it is. So I figured I would ask in here to get some other opinions on it.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,257 Member
    i eat white rice almost every other night for dinner but i only eat a 1/2 cup to 3/4 of a cup with some low sodium black beans, it is not bad on calories, and it helps out A LOT with sodium. you would be surprised how much sodium is in a lot of food, and how much food is processed, i couldnt believe it at first, but that is why i will eat white rice, just in moderation though.
    Your just talking foolishness. j/k Everyone knows that shirataki noodles and walden farm 0 calorie imitation maple syrup is good for weight loss, not rice, rice has calories and carbs a double wammy.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I live in Asia.. and I have noticed that when I eat lots of rice.. I gain weight..

    5382388872_e55d61a3f7_z.jpg
  • wswilliams67
    wswilliams67 Posts: 938 Member
    Most of the world eats white rice, and only when white rice hit North America's shores has it been demonized as white death......too many carbs and it's er, white.

    *sigh* white rice is a simple carb, therefore it spikes your blood glucose. When your BG spikes it will burn off quickly leaving your body wanting another spike. This is how you get cravings. Brown rice however is a complex carb, therefore when balanced with protein will not spike your BG as severely and it takes longer to burn of giving your body a longer, more even sugar burn thereby avoiding the craving for more.

    If you balance the white rice with a good amount of protein the BG spike isn't as bad, but you aren;t getting much nutritional value in it either.

    And BTW... for diabetics... white rice does = death via extreme BG spikes (as does most simple carbs).
  • ihateroses
    ihateroses Posts: 893 Member
    I eat rice everyday. (white/brown/mixed grain)

    Its good if you eat it with a protein but don't go all cray with it and eat just rice breakfast lunch and dinner.

    p.s. I wouldn't eat it for breakfast. You'll get hungry less than an hour after consumption.
  • wswilliams67
    wswilliams67 Posts: 938 Member
    I generally am under in my calories MFP gives me 1300 I am lucky if I hit 1000 everyday . For my carbs I generally have between 50-100 a day so my carbs are generally under as well. I usually don't eat it because everyone is always saying how bad it is for you. But I just happened to come across articles saying it isn't bad for you, along with the others saying it is. So I figured I would ask in here to get some other opinions on it.

    If you are exercising heavily it's a great complex carb source for replenishing glycogen stores. If you are couch-dieting, I'd avoid it.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,257 Member
    Most of the world eats white rice, and only when white rice hit North America's shores has it been demonized as white death......too many carbs and it's er, white.

    *sigh* white rice is a simple carb, therefore it spikes your blood glucose. When your BG spikes it will burn off quickly leaving your body wanting another spike. This is how you get cravings. Brown rice however is a complex carb, therefore when balanced with protein will not spike your BG as severely and it takes longer to burn of giving your body a longer, more even sugar burn thereby avoiding the craving for more.

    If you balance the white rice with a good amount of protein the BG spike isn't as bad, but you aren;t getting much nutritional value in it either.

    And BTW... for diabetics... white rice does = death via extreme BG spikes (as does most simple carbs).
    *sigh*......I like that, thanks. White rice oh wonderful one is a complex carb, not a simple carb, and following your line of thought all fruit, being a simple carb, will cause diabetes and insulin resistance.
  • hiker359
    hiker359 Posts: 577 Member
    White rice doesn't offer much in the way of nutrition. Brown rice gives you a good bit of fiber and some other miscellaneous vitamins/minerals. I would highly encourage you to make the switch. it takes a little getting used to, but now I like brown rice better than white.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    White rice doesn't offer much in the way of nutrition. Brown rice gives you a good bit of fiber and some other miscellaneous vitamins/minerals. I would highly encourage you to make the switch. it takes a little getting used to, but now I like brown rice better than white.

    Comparison of the nutritional value between brown rice and white rice

    Callegaro Mda D, Tirapegui J. Arq Gastroenterol. 1996 Oct-Dec;33(4):225-31.

    Cereals are considered an important source of nutrients both in human and animal nourishment. In this paper nutritional value of brown rice is compared to that of white rice in relation to nutrients. Results show that despite higher nutrients contents of brown rice compared to white rice, experimental data does not provide evidence that the brown rice diet is better than the diet based on white rice. Possible antinutritional factors present in brown rice have adverse effects on bioavailability of this cereal nutrients.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9302338
  • wswilliams67
    wswilliams67 Posts: 938 Member
    Most of the world eats white rice, and only when white rice hit North America's shores has it been demonized as white death......too many carbs and it's er, white.

    *sigh* white rice is a simple carb, therefore it spikes your blood glucose. When your BG spikes it will burn off quickly leaving your body wanting another spike. This is how you get cravings. Brown rice however is a complex carb, therefore when balanced with protein will not spike your BG as severely and it takes longer to burn of giving your body a longer, more even sugar burn thereby avoiding the craving for more.

    If you balance the white rice with a good amount of protein the BG spike isn't as bad, but you aren;t getting much nutritional value in it either.

    And BTW... for diabetics... white rice does = death via extreme BG spikes (as does most simple carbs).
    *sigh*......I like that, thanks. White rice oh wonderful one is a complex carb, not a simple carb, and following your line of thought all fruit, being a simple carb, will cause diabetes and insulin resistance.

    Well since you're gonna start with the smug name calling...

    I misspoke.. I meant a refined carb. And seeing as I AM a Type 2 Diabetic I think I may know a little more about what spikes blood glucose than a non-diabetic forum troll. I never once stated that white rice would cause diabetes. I said it spikes your blood glucose, which is true for anyone. No, fruits will not 'cause' diabetes nor insulin resistance either. That's just an asshat comment. But if you ARE a diabetic then yes fruits must be eaten wisely as well as some veggies.

    Bottom line, the easiest way to avoid carb blood sugar spikes is to balance it with a protein. As for nutritional value... white rice sucks.

    Now troll be gone!
  • Cami37
    Cami37 Posts: 4 Member
    It all depends on who you are. I can eat both brown and white and be fine. Learn to recognize your body and what sets it off in the wrong direction.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,257 Member
    Most of the world eats white rice, and only when white rice hit North America's shores has it been demonized as white death......too many carbs and it's er, white.

    *sigh* white rice is a simple carb, therefore it spikes your blood glucose. When your BG spikes it will burn off quickly leaving your body wanting another spike. This is how you get cravings. Brown rice however is a complex carb, therefore when balanced with protein will not spike your BG as severely and it takes longer to burn of giving your body a longer, more even sugar burn thereby avoiding the craving for more.

    If you balance the white rice with a good amount of protein the BG spike isn't as bad, but you aren;t getting much nutritional value in it either.

    And BTW... for diabetics... white rice does = death via extreme BG spikes (as does most simple carbs).
    *sigh*......I like that, thanks. White rice oh wonderful one is a complex carb, not a simple carb, and following your line of thought all fruit, being a simple carb, will cause diabetes and insulin resistance.

    Well since you're gonna start with the smug name calling...

    I misspoke.. I meant a refined carb. And seeing as I AM a Type 2 Diabetic I think I may know a little more about what spikes blood glucose than a non-diabetic forum troll. I never once stated that white rice would cause diabetes. I said it spikes your blood glucose, which is true for anyone. No, fruits will not 'cause' diabetes nor insulin resistance either. That's just an asshat comment. But if you ARE a diabetic then yes fruits must be eaten wisely as well as some veggies.

    Bottom line, the easiest way to avoid carb blood sugar spikes is to balance it with a protein. As for nutritional value... white rice sucks.

    Now troll be gone!
    No, you meant simple carb, you said it twice in that post and alluded to simple carbs = death......your a perfect example of a little information is dangerous. You may also want to look a proteins insulinogenic properties, if you think protein is going to reduce that spike your referring to.
  • cmcollins001
    cmcollins001 Posts: 3,472 Member
    Question: Do you like white rice?

    If the answer is yes, and you want to eat white rice, and you don't have any medical reason not to eat white rice, then yes, white rice is good for weight loss.

    Why is white rice good for weight loss? Because you like it, you have the calories for it, and you're not depriving yourself of anything.

    I eat all types of rice often and I'm doing ok.

    Unless you have some sort of medical condition, personal or religious reasons, there are no "bad" foods. Some foods are more nutrient dense and some are more calorie dense and some are both. Some foods will keep you feeling fuller longer and often help with keeping within your calorie goals for the day.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    just ate creamed white rice. I'll let you know how I go tomorrow.
  • God I love rice! That definitely doesn't sound like a "healthy" way to lose weight, but I would enjoy it very much! :)

    When I have rice with my meals, I always cheat and pick up a pint at the Chinese place....already cooked, steaming hot.

    But that's true, Asians eat rice with every meal and they are itty bitty!!
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    just ate creamed white rice. I'll let you know how I go tomorrow.
    Oh noezzz! You'll probably wake up dead with an insulin spike stuck right through your body!

    Answer to the OP: As long as you're maintaining a caloric deficit and getting your macronutrients, rice will not keep you from losing weight. Everything in moderation.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    just ate creamed white rice. I'll let you know how I go tomorrow.
    You'll probably wake up dead with an insulin spike stuck right through your body!

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    well put
  • pyrowill
    pyrowill Posts: 1,163 Member
    Just check your portion sizes. A lot of people over estimate for Rice and Pasta.
  • jlohcook
    jlohcook Posts: 228 Member
    All these talk about insulin spike...interesting, I guess the whole of Asian community that lives on rice as their main staple will die off pretty soon?! Quite ridiculous, some of the statements here.

    For us Asians, rice is a main staple, we can't live without it. So, is it bad for us? No, so far, our diets generally both lunch and dinners require rice, we won't feel full if we don't have it. and if you make us live on bread or salad or just steak alone, we won't feel full at all. We will probably die faster ( as how some here claimed what rice will do to you) if we just live without rice. As you can see, many Asians are smaller in size generally in Asia, because our diet is not only on rice alone, but a good combination of vegetables, meat, and fruits. Of course in the recent health reports, many claims that brown rice is better than white rice. For thousands of years, Asians have been living with white rice, it's not easy to switch to brown rice.

    So, is it bad for you, it depends. I think the composition of what your body can take depends on what you are used to, some people can be fat even being vegetarian, it's really taking things in moderation, what the body needs, and the nutrients that you need. I won't go so strong as to condemn any kind of food at all. You have to find what works for you.

    Balanced diet is most critical to get healthy and help to lose weight.
  • I never was very good good at sticking to a particular weight loss plan. I am very happy about how I look but sometimes I just want to lose a bit of weight - nothing major. I used this the last time which worked well..... I had to fill out a form first to access it..http://tinyurl.com/weightlosslinks
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    This is what is good for weight loss - - - CALORIE DEFICIT. And no...white rice is not a miracle food that you'll eat and weight will fall off you. If you like white rice go ahead and eat it, just make sure it fits into your daily calorie goal.
  • neelia
    neelia Posts: 750 Member
    I used to substitute shredded cauliflower for rice. Even my husband liked it!

    Just use a grater to shred it up then stick in the microwave for 5 minutes. Easy peasy.