Health Tips: Can You Eat Rice Left Overnight? Experts Explain the Benefits and Dangers

In India, almost every household prepares rice with chapati, vegetables, and  dal every day. Many people do not even have a meal without rice. Everyone from children to adults eats rice. But often this rice remains. Which is eaten the next morning. But many people have a question, is it safe to eat this leftover rice from the night? The answer to this is both yes and no.

Leftover rice is safe and beneficial only when it is stored properly. If this is not done, serious health problems can occur.

Is it beneficial to eat leftover rice?

If the leftover rice is stored properly, its nutrients like carbohydrates, vitamin B, and minerals remain intact. It is a good source of energy for the body.

Resistant starch: The biggest benefit of eating leftover rice is the resistant starch in it. When freshly cooked rice is allowed to cool, it forms a special type of starch that is not easily digested by our body and acts like fiber in the intestines. This starch acts as food for the good bacteria in the intestines, which helps keep the digestive system healthy.

Blood Sugar Control: Resistant starch prevents blood sugar levels from rising suddenly, which can be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes.

Weight Control: Eating this stale rice keeps the stomach full for longer, which reduces overeating and helps in weight loss.

Disadvantages of Eating Leftover Rice

The biggest risk with leftover rice is food poisoning. This risk is caused by improper storage of rice.

Bacterial Infection: Raw rice often contains spores of a bacteria called Bacillus cereus. These spores are not killed by cooking. When rice is kept at room temperature after cooking, these bacteria multiply rapidly and produce toxins. This toxin is not destroyed by reheating.

Food poisoning: Eating rice contaminated with this bacteria can cause serious problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. These symptoms usually appear within 1 to 5 hours.

Nutrient loss: Reheating leftover rice repeatedly can reduce some of its water-soluble vitamins.