Lose weight with rice: that's the reason

Losing weight quickly without starving - that is what a diet with rice promises. But what's behind it? We explain how the rice diet works and what you should consider.

How does losing weight work with rice?

When dieting with rice, as the name suggests, you should eat almost exclusively rice. Losing weight is primarily due to the lower calorie intake. But also because rice and the potassium it contains bind water and remove it from the body. Those who implement and stick to the stricter variant of the diet should (as the promises) lose up to 9 kg in a month.

• In the first phase of the rice diet, you need to reduce the number of calories to 800-1000 per day. Gradually increase the number of calories to 1200.
• The strict version of the diet requires that you only eat rice for the first week, possibly with a salad (but without fat dressing). You can eat vegetables and fruit from the second week.
• The milder version also allows the consumption of vegetables, fruit and lean meat from the start. It is important in both cases that you pay attention to the calories.
• Salt, sugar and fat are not allowed.
• You can eat lean meat and fish in the stricter version of the diet from the third week.
• White rice contains fewer vitamins and minerals, but more calories. It is also digested faster by the body and this can lead to shark hunger attacks. Therefore, you should rather eat wild rice or whole grain rice.

You should pay attention to this with the rice diet

The rice diet cannot replace a switch to a healthy diet - and should not be implemented in the long term either.

• The permitted number of calories is extremely low. Your body will get used to getting fewer calories. If you then eat normally again after the diet, the feared yo-yo effect can occur and you will gain weight again quickly.
• Make sure you drink enough water. The rice diet is designed to remove excess water from your body - but should not lead to dehydration.
• Especially in the strict version, the rice diet is one-sided and your body does not get enough vitamins and nutrients.
• As a result of flushing water out of the body, vitamins and important minerals such as magnesium are also lost. This can lead to deficiency symptoms. So it's best to take additional magnesium, calcium and vitamin D during this time.
• Rice contains arsenic. The risk of getting cancer is increased if you consume too much rice.
• With this diet, you eat little protein - and you need that for healthy muscles. If you don't eat protein-rich foods at all, you may lose muscle. We recommend the moderate version of the diet, which allows you to eat meat or other protein foods.
• Another reason to avoid the strict variant: it is monotonous. You need variety, otherwise you will hardly be able to keep up the diet after a few days.
• The best thing to do before you start a diet is to talk to a doctor or nutritionist. They can tell you whether the diet poses health risks for you and which method is best for you.

In the video: How to cook rice properly

In our next article, you will learn how to cook rice properly and easily. If the rice diet is not for you, we will explain how to lose weight vegan and show you the best apps for a healthy diet.