A new study shows that rice can be used to boost the metabolism of people who are overweight and obese, and even people who have a genetic predisposition for diabetes.
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers from the University of California, Davis found that rice, along with other whole grains, are ideal for helping people lose weight, according to a news release from the study.
“The fact that the rice protein has been shown to help with weight loss and metabolic disease, combined with its health benefits, should make it an excellent source of food to help the population,” study author Dr. David L. Stankov said in the release.
The researchers found that individuals with a family history of diabetes or type 2 diabetes who consumed more than 40 grams of rice a day had a 35 percent higher body mass index and a 30 percent higher waist circumference than those who consumed less than 20 grams of the rice per day.
Researchers also found that those who had a genetic propensity for diabetes had a 37 percent higher BMI, a 20 percent higher weight, and a 15 percent higher blood pressure.
The findings were based on the rice and other whole grain diets.
Researchers also looked at people who had type 2 diabetics.
The results show that the diets were equally effective in reducing blood pressure and heart disease, and that it’s important to consume more whole grains than is typical in the Western diet.
“These results are a clear indicator that rice is a powerful way to reduce blood pressure, increase lean mass, and improve overall health,” said study author L. Diane Gordon, PhD, a UC Davis professor of nutrition.
The results were not expected because the researchers only studied rice and wheat, but also other whole foods, such as legumes and beans, and legumes like beans, lentils, chickpeas, and rice.
“We wanted to understand the impact of rice on the body,” Stankow said in a news statement.
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.