Rice Water: The liquid gold you didn’t know about

By Rocky Gofamodimo

Rice is generally cooked in boiling water and the water used to cook it is normally thrown away. Others, including a couple of my friends, actually “de-starch” the rice before cooking it and I always see them throw away the water afterwards.

So, if, like my friends, you are one of those that have been throwing rice water down the drain over the years, know that you have been wasting precious water. Rice water, potato water and even pasta water can be used to benefit you and members of your family as well as your garden plants.

When you boil rice, it loses some of its nutrients. Those nutrients ultimately end up in the water used to cook it. It is these nutrients and starch that have been used from medieval times as a magical potion that helped folks to achieve a radiant flawless skin while improving their healthy.

Health

It is said that drinking rice water helps improve digestion, relieves constipation and can prevent several ailments. This is because it is packed with the minerals and healthy carbohydrates, thus drinking a glass of rice water every morning can give your body ample energy to stay active throughout the day.

Pimples

For those who suffer a bad case of pimples and acne, you can naturally reduce those unpleasant marks by applying rice water on them. Rice water can also be used as toner to reduce the open pores.

On top of this, a 2018 study published in the journal Cosmetics found evidence that rice water has potential anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on skin.

Hydration

For those of you who enjoy the holy water but always suffer terrible hangovers, rice water can be your fighter. The presence of minerals helps in rice water helps balance the electrolyte level in the body as it provides ample hydration to the body by replenishing the lost nutrients.

Feet

If you spend most of your day on your feet then you definitely know how they will be sore and painful by the time you get home. All you have to do is warm up your rice/pasta water to a comfortable temperature and dip your feet in it. The heat combined with the minerals will soothe aches and pains away.

Garden

As already pointed out earlier, water which has been used to cook rice is full of starch rich in nutrients and minerals, making it helpful for growing plants and flowers. So the next time you boil/ “de-starch” your rice, use the water in your garden rather than throwing it down the drain. Rice water can also be used as a pest control. Insects like fruit flies, plant lice, flea beetle, aphids and other pests can be reduced using rice water.

So there you have it. So never ever throw rice water away. Please note this is mainly for informational purposes. You will need to do more research and/or consult with your doctor to get a more comprehensive advice.

NB: This article is made up of wording from the author and other different sources