Rice water for children: is it healthy?
Is your child at the age of weaning and would you like to include rice water in his daily menu? Learn about the benefits and harms of rice water on the health of your infant.
Rice water food is one of the oldest weaning foods for babies because of its ease of preparation and availability, but is it good for your baby? We provide you with information about the nutritional value of this food and its impact on the health of children.
The nutritional value of rice water
Rice water is made up of starch and some bioactive compounds, water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin B1-thiamine, B2-riboflavin, and B3-niacin, and minerals such as sodium and potassium.
Rice water lacks fiber and fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, and some vital rice proteins. Therefore, it should be used as a complementary food for the baby with other foods such as mashed sweet potatoes, and vegetables.
It is worth noting, that rice water should not be used as a substitute for breast milk, nor should it be used as the only source of nutrition for children.
The optimal age to drink rice water
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies be breastfed up to six months old. But babies between the ages of four to six months are usually ready to start eating weaning foods.
So if your baby shows signs that he's ready to eat solid foods by the time he's four months old, you can start planning to feed him rice water after consulting your pediatrician.
Rice water benefits
There are many benefits to the child from drinking rice water, including:
- Skin Moisturizing: The oils in the rice granules help in moisturizing the dry eczema patches on your baby’s skin.
- Energy Source: The rapid growth and development in children lead to increased energy consumption. The total carbohydrate content of rice water can be a good source of energy for your child.
- Helps treat gastritis: Various studies have shown the effectiveness of rice water in cases of gastritis, and digestive disorders in children. Studies recommend using it with other solid foods in the recovery stage of stomach infections.
- Rich in essential vitamins: Rice water contains carbohydrates and vitamins, which are essential for a healthy body.
- Healthy Bones: Rice water contains vital proteins, which are a vital component that helps build the bones of babies during infancy.
Rice water warnings
Before you start including your child's diet with rice water, consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to foods like barley and oats, the chances of your child developing an allergy to rice water are also high. If your child is allergic to rice water, he may have the following symptoms:
- stomach pain.
- bloating;
- Skin rash.
- diarrhea and vomiting;
- breathing difficulties.
If your child has diarrhea and weight loss, he is likely to become severely dehydrated, so please consult a doctor immediately.
How to prepare
If you want to prepare rice water for your child healthily and deliciously, follow these steps:
- Prepare one cup of rice and six cups of water.
- Use your hands to rub the rice grains.
- Pour water over the rice and wash it well.
- Repeat this process until the water is completely clear.
- Combine rice and six water in a saucepan and bring to a boil, just as you would if you were making porridge.
- When the rice is mashed, strain it from the rice and wait for it to cool, then serve it to your baby.
It is worth mentioning, that you should use high-quality rice to prepare rice water for your child, and wash the rice properly so that you are assured that your child is consuming healthy food.