What is rice water and what is it good for? 



Women search the world over for beauty secrets from other cultures, and rice water may just be one of them. This ancient Asian secret, the water remaining in the pot of boiled rice, has been used for centuries by women as a hair and skin treatment and even taken internally for health benefits.

How to make rice water?

Put two or three tablespoons of whatever white rice you have on hand — simple white, sushi rice, jasmine or basmati for example — into a small saucepan and add two cups of water. You can try purified or distilled water or regular filtered tap or bottle water.

Don't add butter or salt. It's the starch from the rice we're after, not added ingredients. Boil for 20-30 minutes until the water becomes a milky white liquid. Some people don't even bother with the boiling and instead simply soak the rice for 30 minutes. However, some proponents insist that boiling draws out more of the starches from the rice into the water.

Regardless of your method, strain the rice after the allotted time, reserving the water. You may be able to use the rice in recipes like soups or for sushi, otherwise discard. Cool the rice water and store in a glass jar with lid. Keep in the refrigerator up to four days.

So you have rice water now.

What can you do with it?

1. Beautify your skin
For the skin, rice water is said to be an inexpensive, effective beauty balm for cleansing, toning and lightening hyperpigmentation, sun and age spots. Many say you can see and feel results after a single use. Helping with smoothing texture, hyperpigmentation and a porcelain finish, rice water illuminates, firms and tightens skin to appear refreshed and reduces pore size, leaving a powdery, soft feeling behind.

Over time, using rice water regularly, hyper pigmentation or brown spots are said to diminish, and the water works as well as any expensive skin lightening serum or cream.

Soak a cotton ball thoroughly in rice water and apply all over your face in the morning and evening. Going to bed with freshly applied rice water is said to increase benefits. Let your face dry naturally.

Rice water is also good for acne since it reduces redness and clear blemishes, and the starch in the water is said to soothe the inflammation of eczema.

Rice contains natural antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin-A, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which may minimize free radical damage from age, sun and environment.

2. Tame and condition your hair
As a hair treatment, rice water is said to deeply condition and soften hair making it more manageable and healthier-looking. Yao women from the village of Huangluo in China believe that fermented rice water keeps their hair shiny, healthy, long and manageable. Rice water is said to help detangle and improve hair elasticity.

The International Journal of Cosmetic Science did study Japanese rice water's (called Yu-Su-Ru) effect on hair and found it had significant benefits for improving elasticity and reducing surface friction.

After shampooing and conditioning as usual, rinse hair thoroughly with a generous helping of cooled rice water as the final finish.
 

Use a rice water finish rinse once or twice a week for best results. 

3. Improve your overall health
Because the water retained after soaking or boiling rice is as nutritious as rice itself, and many cultures especially in Asia swear by health and longevity benefits from a diet heavy in rice, drinking rice water may provide some health benefits.

Though not much hard research exists, rice water is said to provide energy, help with stomach issues like bloating and constipation and diarrhea, help protect from the sun and regulate body temperature. One study from the Lancet found rice water helped prevent dehydration and was as effective as an electrolyte solution. Other studies have backed the fact that rice water is an effective treatment against diarrhea.

However, it seems as though the biggest boon for rice water lays in its skin and hair benefits. It's a simple, inexpensive beauty treatment that may offer improved skin and hair. Try it for a week and see if you love what it does for your complexion. Now, I’m off to make some rice water.

Article Source: https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/what-rice-water-and-what-it-good
Image Source:     https://media.mnn.com/assets/images/2016/01/RiceWaterInGlassAndBowlOfWhiteRice.jpg.653x0_q80_crop-smart.jpg

VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Proponents (n.) - a person who puts forward a proposition or proposal.
2. hyper pigmentation -n. Excess pigment in a tissue or body part.
3. Illuminates - v. to supply or brighten with light: light up.
4. Serum - n. clear watery fluid, especially exuded by serious membranes.
5. Longevity - n. the length or duration of life.
6. Friction - n. surface resistance to relative motion, as of a body sliding or rolling.
7. Boon - n. something to be thankful blessing benefit.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. What is rice water? What are the benefits we can get from it?
2. What kinds of treatment do usually do to maintain a healthy and beautiful skin?
3. How do you make your hair shiny, strong and beautiful?
4. What are the things you do to maintain a healthy body?
5. Are you willing to try the beauty tips mentioned above? Discuss your answer.