At the dinner table, one often hears many people say: "Eat less rice and more dishes; rice has no nutrition, all the nutrition is in the dishes." Some women who are overly concerned about their figures even treat this as a golden rule for losing weight.
On the surface, this seems quite reasonable. However, from a scientific and nutritional perspective, if this continues for a long time, it is extremely detrimental to one's health.
The main component of rice and staple foods like noodles is carbohydrates, which are an economical and directly convertible source of energy and nutrition. Our Chinese nation has always considered rice and staple foods as essential since ancient times. The dietary physiological habits and nutritional absorption patterns of a nation are not something that can be easily changed in just one or two generations.
We know that carbohydrates are the main "basic raw material" our bodies need. From a digestive standpoint, in a balanced diet, 50% to 60% of the total daily energy requirement comes from carbohydrates. Compared to the big fish and meat in dishes, rice is much easier to digest. Rice has a role that other nutrients cannot replace. Staple foods are generally bland in taste, and besides that, they have their own light fragrance.
Why can we eat rice for a lifetime without getting tired of it, yet after eating rich dishes like big fish and meat for three consecutive days, we lose our appetite? This is because rich dishes are strong in flavor, color, and oil. Eating too much can cause great反感 and irritation to the digestive system. Excessively consuming rich dishes places a heavy burden on the stomach and intestines.
Long-term consumption of dishes that are high in protein, high in fat, and low in fiber is extremely detrimental to health. Some people believe that eating more vegetables is not a bad thing, but vegetables "absorb" oil. Many vegetables are stir-fried with excessive cooking oil, and some dishes are practically swimming in it. Eating this way can easily lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity.
Nutritionists also do not advocate the absolute view of "eat more rice and fewer dishes." They promote a scientific and reasonable combination of staple and non-staple foods. Rice, vegetables, meat, and fruit should all be included, of course, with staple foods making up the absolute majority of the meal. Furthermore, one must also consider the individual's stage of life. Teenagers are in a stage of physical growth and bone development, and they are also very active, so the ratio of staple to non-staple foods has age-specific characteristics. However, the ratio for the elderly is different from that for teenagers.
Nowadays, the number of patients with gastrointestinal diseases has increased compared to the past. The incidence rate among teenagers, in particular, is trending younger, which is related to many only children being spoiled at home and eating indiscriminately.