Cooking Rice This Way Could Reduce the Calories by Half, Scientists Say

Have you ever joked with someone “don’t worry, I’ve taken all of the calories out” when they are reluctant to have a slice of chocolate cake? Well, scientists may not be able to make calorie-free chocolate cake (yet), but, they have discovered how to reduce the calories in a portion of rice by half. It’s a start!

According to a report by Sudhair James, a chemistry student at the College of Chemical Sciences in Sri Lanka, cooking rice a certain way can reduce the calories absorbed by the body by 50-60%. Here’s how the process works.

• Take a pot of boiling water
• Before adding the rice, add coconut oil (about a teaspoon for half a cup of rice)
• Cook the rice as normal
• Leave the rice to cool in the refrigerator for 12 hours
• Warm the rice up in the microwave
• Eureka! Tasty rice with half the calories!

Sounds very simple, but the process involves some amazing food chemistry. Apparently, the process converts the starch in the rice into a version that isn’t easily turned into glucose in the stomach. As a result, your body doesn’t absorb as many calories.

Now, before you get too excited, the 50-60% decrease in calories is just hypothetical at this point. The researchers involved in this study hope to reach this level in the future. In addition, they are using Suduru Samba, a variety of rice that lends itself well to the transformation. That said, it’s an intriguing idea none-the-less.

Personally, I’m really curious how the process works. If you give it a try, please post your experience in the comments below.

What do you think of this process? Do you think that you will give it a try? What other food do you wish someone would remove the calories from (I vote for chocolate cake)? Please join the conversation.