5 benefits of rice milk and varied recipes to try

Made from cereals, fruits, nuts, seeds or grains, vegetable drinks are an alternative increasingly consumed by vegetarians and vegans. With that in mind, we talked to Pollyana Guimarães (CRN 11529), a nutritionist at Grupo Pardini, to learn more about the benefits and harms of rice milk. Follow along to check out the professional’s information, as well as recipes to prepare the drink at home!

Benefits of rice milk and necessary care with consumption

Pollyana explains that plant-based drinks “are widely used by people looking for an alternative to animal protein, especially vegetarians and vegans. But plant ‘milks’ have also been an alternative for people with cow’s milk protein allergy or lactose intolerant people”. Here are other benefits pointed out by the nutritionist:

5 benefits of rice milk

• It is rich in vitamins of the B complex: these vitamins “confer several benefits to health and, mainly, to the nervous system”, he comments.
• It is a source of carbohydrate: carbohydrates are essential to give us energy. “But we need to be careful not to exaggerate, especially those who are in the process of losing weight and people with diabetes”, warns Pollyana.
• Helps in the production of serotonin: the nutritionist explains that rice is rich in amino acids such as tryptophan. He is responsible for the formation of serotonin, which is the hormone of joy, providing well-being.
• It is free of saturated fats: “because it is a drink free of animal components, it does not cause cardiovascular problems, which favors heart health”.
• It can be enriched with vitamins and minerals: Pollyana comments that “some manufacturers enrich the drink with some vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron and vitamins D and A, which are important for the immune system, skin and vision health. .”

Can rice milk be harmful?

“We cannot fail to mention that rice milk is rich in carbohydrates, therefore, for people with diabetes, consumption without medical or nutritional guidance is not recommended”, warns Pollyana. The nutritionist also comments that, according to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), drinks made from rice may have traces of inorganic arsenic. For this reason, in the long run, they can cause some heart problems and cancer if consumed in excess.

Pollyana adds that “several options available on the market have different types of sugars or sweeteners, in addition to flavoring, coloring, emulsifiers and stabilizers in their composition. The suggestion is always to read the list of ingredients before buying and, if possible, give preference to organic ones”, he recommends.

How to make rice milk

The nutritionist indicates a very practical and quick recipe: just cook 1 cup of white or brown rice until soft, hit the blender with warm filtered water and then strain. Next, we also selected 5 other preparation options – some with ingredients that will bring an extra flavor to your rice milk. Check out:

plain rice milk

Here, you learn how to prepare plant-based milk using raw rice. To make it, just let the beans soak for 3 hours to 4 hours, hit the blender and strain. In addition, the video also has an extra tip: see how to use the beverage residue to prepare rice flour!

Rice milk with sugar and salt

This recipe is very similar to the previous one, but has more ingredients. The tip is to add a little sugar and salt, so that the taste is more similar to cow’s milk. It is also possible to flavor the drink with vanilla essence or honey, in addition to using brown or cooked rice in the preparation.

brown rice milk

If you want to prepare a smooth and neutral milk to use in sweet and savory preparations, follow this recipe. Here, the drink is made with brown rice, which is boiled and then churned and strained. Watch the full video to check out several usage tips!

Rice milk with vanilla extract

How about making a vanilla flavored rice milk? In this video, the beans are pre-cooked before being blended in a blender with the water and extract. If the drink is too consistent, just dilute it with a little more water after it’s ready.

Cooked rice milk with apricot

In this recipe, the already cooked rice is beaten with water, dried apricots and vanilla essence. Then, strain the mixture and use the residue in other preparations. The result is a sweet milk, due to the use of the fruit, without the need for the addition of sugar or sweetener.

Now that you know everything about rice milk, how about knowing other similar drinks? Take the opportunity to learn more vegetable milk recipes and always vary in preparation!

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.