These leftover foods are good for your health; why waste it?
Leftovers can come in very handy, and surprisingly have health benefits that you may have been unaware of because of some chemical reactions that occur when left overnight, scientists have discovered, trim waists and improves health of skin. Here is a list of leftover foods that are good for you.
Rice
Rice, when chilled overnight, loses up to 60% more calories than freshly cooked.
However, the American Chemical Society states that for maximum benefit, you
have to cook the rice in a proper way. Add coconut oil - about 3% of the weight
of the rice- while cooking and refrigerate it for 12 hours. The process changes
the starch into resistant starch, which the human body cannot digest.
That being said, scientists' have also cautioned that certain bacteria,
like the bacillus cereus bacteria can survive cooking. Commonly found on rice,
this bacteria naturally germinates in cold temperature and produces a
neurotoxin that leads to food poisoning.
Carrots
Not only
does the cooking process immediately increase a carrot’s levels of
cancer-fighting antioxidants by 34%, those levels keep rising for a few days
afterwards. So eat them as leftovers and they’ll be even better for you.
Cheese
Much like
wine, the longer the cheese age, the lactose content of it decreases making it
easier to digest, and in turn making you less prone to stomach aches, bloating
or even diarrhoea.
Vegetables
Vegetables
like garlic and onion with insoluble fibre cause issues like irritable bowel
syndrome. Overcooking such vegetables will soften the fibre that causes
bloating. Reheating helps to soften them further.
Potatoes
The thing
about indigestible starch in cooked potatoes is that once cooled it jumps from
7% to 13%. This is said to help fight against colon cancer, reduce fat storage
and prevent constipation. And since it does not switch to regular starch upon
reheating, your best bet is to sauté it and make a nice dry Indian potato dish
or have it as a potato salad.
Red
meat
Keeping
red meat overnight, helps the meat become softer and more easily digestible
than previously. It is especially good for those suffering from anaemia.
Pasta
Reheated
pasta behaves more like high-fibre food and hence will reduce chances of
putting on weight. It will also reduce the increase of sugar level by half and
hence lower the chances of developing diabetes. Researchers reveal that freshly
cooked pasta can contribute to conditions like Type 2 diabetes. So, if you are
a pasta lover make sure to have only the leftover dish.