*A TikTok cook shared a hack for reducing calories and carbs in starchy foods like rice, bread, and pasta without cutting portion sizes.
According to Dr. Karan Rajan, this technique works based on a process called retrogradation, New York Post reports. When carb-rich foods like rice, potatoes, and pasta are cooked, then cooled and reheated, some of their starches become resistant to digestion in the small intestine. As a result, fewer calories are absorbed, and the starches are instead fermented by gut bacteria in the colon.
TikTok user Linda (@mamalindacooks) dubbed this method the “Asian mom secret,” and it can apply to various foods, including pasta, bread, and potatoes. Watch the video below.
Dr. Karan Rangarajan, also known as Dr. Karan Rajan, told his 5.2 million followers:“If you love rice and you love leftovers, this is gonna be your favorite food science hack.”
He added, “Pretty much any leftovers that contain carbs — rice, bread, pasta, potatoes, legumes, oats — when you cook it and then you cool it or freeze it and then reheat it, it will now magically contain fewer calories.”
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@dr.karanr Leftovers ! @MamaLindaCooks ♬ original sound – Dr Karan Raj
Dr. Rajan explained that resistant starch, formed through retrogradation, helps improve bowel regularity, increase stool bulk, and may lower the risk of colon cancer. Additionally, resistant starch has a reduced glycemic effect, making it beneficial for diabetics.
“Those carb-y leftovers become a wannabe fiber, aka prebiotics. They feed beneficial bacterial species like bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus,” he said.
“This means it can reduce blood sugar spikes after eating and help keep stable blood sugar levels,” he added.
Rice can harbor Bacillus cereus spores, which may produce toxins leading to foodborne illnesses like diarrhea and vomiting. Improper handling, such as not refrigerating rice promptly, storing it too long, or reheating it inadequately, can encourage bacterial growth.
Per The Post, here are tips for cooking rice safely:
- Cook smaller batches of rice in a rice cooker instead of one large batch.
- If you keep the rice in a rice cooker on the “keep warm” setting, use a thermometer to make sure it stays at least 150 degrees.
- Don’t put a hot, covered pot of rice in the fridge — use several smaller containers instead.
- Once the rice is in a container, place it right into the fridge.
- When in doubt, throw it out.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: No More Carbs? Here’s 10 Things that Can Happen to Your Body Now
