Amitabh Bachchan, 83, says he has stopped eating rice and kheer; Jaya’s mango twist wins him over: ‘Thank you’

How does a rice-free diet impact the body?

Nutritionist Aditi Prabhu, founder of NutroDynamix, says that the rice we mainly consume is polished white rice, which is primarily a source of simple carbohydrates with very few nutrients, minimal fibre, and a few nutrients like B vitamins. Therefore, skipping rice won’t lead to any deficiencies.

“While removing rice may initially impact energy levels and lead to increased hunger, it does not impact metabolism. Also, once the initial adjustment period is over, the energy, metabolism, or satiety cues stabilise, provided the overall diet is balanced in terms of carbohydrates, protein, and fats,” she tells indianexpress.com.

When Jaya Bachchan cooked rice free mango kheer for Amitabh. (Source: Instagram/@bollywood bubble)

However, in case someone consumes unpolished or semi-polished rice varieties, which are rich in fibre as well as iron, magnesium, etc, Prabhu believes you need to look out for vitamin B and micronutrient deficiencies. But this can be easily prevented by replacing rice with other whole foods, she adds.

Alternatives to try

If someone stops eating rice, Prabhu says that we have options that are better sources of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and micronutrients. Some of them include:

• Millets like ragi, bajra, kodo, porso etc.
• Pseudo millets like quinoa, buckwheat, and rajgira
• Whole wheat, barley, oats
• Starchy vegetables include sweet potatoes, yams, and cassava.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.