Stop washing your rice again and again, says Acharya Balkrishna; here’s what you’re losing

Acharya Balkrishna recently wrote about rice in a Facebook post. Rice is the main food for a large number of people across the world. He used this fact to explain a few things about rice that many households overlook, especially during cooking.

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Rice feeds a large part of the world

Acharya Balkrishna started by pointing out how widely rice is eaten. It is the staple food for a big share of the global population. This is true across many countries, not just India. Rice forms the base of daily meals for millions of households.

This wide reach is exactly why small details about rice matter. A staple food affects diet on a daily basis. Even minor habits in preparing it can add up over time.

What rice brings to the body

According to Acharya Balkrishna, rice is not just a source of carbohydrates. It also contains zinc. Zinc plays a role in keeping the body fit. This makes rice more than a simple energy source. It contributes a mineral that the body needs regularly.

This point is often missed in everyday conversations about rice. Most people associate rice only with carbohydrates and energy. Acharya Balkrishna’s post adds zinc to that picture, giving a fuller view of what rice offers.

The problem with over-washing rice

One of the key points Acharya Balkrishna made was about washing rice before cooking. Rice contains starch, and this starch holds mineral salts and vitamins. Washing rice again and again removes these nutrients along with the starch.

He was clear on this. Rice should not be washed repeatedly before it goes into the pot. A single rinse may be enough for most households. Washing it multiple times, a common habit in many kitchens, ends up taking away the very nutrients rice is meant to provide.

This is a small change that can make a real difference. Many people wash rice three or four times out of habit, thinking it makes the rice cleaner. Acharya Balkrishna’s post suggests this habit works against the nutritional value of rice rather than improving it.

An old practice: Rice with milk and sugar

Acharya Balkrishna also mentioned a traditional way of eating rice. Mixing rice with milk and sugar, he said, helps clear the stomach. This is an old practice followed in many Indian homes, often passed down through generations.

This combination is simple. It uses ingredients already present in most kitchens. The mix is usually eaten as part of a meal, not as a separate remedy. Acharya Balkrishna’s mention of this brings attention back to a habit that has slowly become less common in modern diets.

This practice fits into a larger pattern of using food itself for digestion and gut comfort, rather than reaching for something separate. Rice, milk and sugar together form a meal that does double duty, providing nutrition while also supporting digestion.

Also Read: Lactose intolerant? Acharya Balkrishna suggests this 2-ingredient milk substitute