Rice milk benefits are always compared to soy and almond milk. People who can not drink dairy milk are in search of alternative milk. They want to choose between soy, almond, or rice milk. This article is to elaborate on the benefits of rice milk.
Compared to cows’ milk rice milk lacks nutrients. But, it has good reasons to be the better alternative milk. People who are intolerant to dairy milk and have high cholesterol need alternatives.
Seldom rice milk causes allergies in people. Hence among all kinds of milk, rice milk is the least allogenic alternative milk.
Ideal for Vegans because rice milk is a plant-based product. It has no animal additives in it.
In supermarkets, rice milk can be easily found. But why buy? You can make your own rice milk at home. Use brown rice to make rice milk because it can give more nutrition.
In this article, we are looking to cover the following to give you a holistic understanding of rice milk:
- Health benefits
- Nutrition
- Side effects and risks of rice milk
- Many uses of rice milk
- How to make rice milk, rice milk soap, rice milk for natural hair, hair conditioner, and moisturizer spray
Table of Contents
Rice Milk Health Benefits
Numerous health benefits can be gained from drinking rice milk. Here are the important ones:
1. Great Alternative for Dairy Milk
This milk makes a good alternative to dairy milk next to soy and almond milk. Good for vegans as well as for those people who are allergic to certain substances in dairy milk.
The substances we are talking about in dairy milk are lactose and casein protein. Some people have an intolerance to lactose and casein. Lactose is the sugar that is present in dairy milk. Meanwhile, casein is the main protein of dairy milk.
On the other hand, some people are allergic to soy and almond milk. Therefore, rice milk becomes the foremost best alternative milk irrespective of people’s conditions.
There is another group of people who cannot drink dairy milk vegans. So, for vegans, rice milk is alternative milk for them to drink.
2. Rice Milk is free of Saturated Fat and Cholesterol
Fat content is negligible in rice milk. The little fat in it is also unsaturated fat. Unsaturated fats are considered healthy fats which are essential for our body. Unsaturated fats help in lowering high blood and cholesterol levels. So it is good to have unsaturated fats in our diet.
The other advantage of rice milk is it is cholesterol-free. Those who want to control cholesterol should include rice milk in their daily diet. Cow’s milk has 14g of cholesterol in every 100g. But rice milk has only 0.97g per 100g of milk.
3. Rich in B Vitamins
B vitamins are rich in rice milk is good news. B vitamins are one of the organic compounds that play a key role in:
- promoting blood circulation
- supporting metabolism
- supporting nerve functions
- promoting cell growth
- supporting brain functions
- reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. particularly stroke
You need to know that B vitamins may be lost during the making of rice milk. Therefore, buy only fortified rice milk products where B vitamins are preserved.
4. Rice Milk Promotes Cardiovascular Health
The cholesterol-free and B vitamin-rich rice milk is good the cardiovascular health.
Furthermore, rice milk made from rice bran or brown rice has a lot more nutrients to help heart health. Those nutrients are magnesium, iron, and copper. All of these are good for heart health.
5. Antioxidants and Rice Milk
Rice milk is rich in antioxidants such as selenium and manganese. This makes rice milk the best choice for alternative milk.
A study in 1994 says manganese together with calcium, zinc, and copper help older women with spinal bone loss.
Selenium is a powerful antioxidant. It helps our body in many ways against cancer and cardiovascular chronic conditions. Good in combating oxidative stress in us.
6. Boost Immune System with Rice Milk
Thiamine concentration is high in rice milk. It helps to boost our body’s immune system and assists in various health conditions.
7. Rice Milk Carbohydrates
If you are looking to increase the intake of carbohydrates then rice milk is the right choice. Carbs are more in rice milk compared to soy or almond milk. Carbohydrates are one of the sources of energy for our bodies. In a way, rice milk intake can provide more energy with less fat.
8. Rice Milk for Diabetes
Certainly, rice milk does not suit diabetics because of the high content of carbs.
Suitable Alternative Milk for Protein Allergic people
There is little or no protein in rice milk. This makes rice milk an ideal drink for those who are allergic to protein.
9. Benefits for babies from Rice Milk
According to the parenting guide, breast milk is the most important food for infants. Of course, every mother knows. Toddlers need to be fed with breast milk in the 1st year and the following few years for their healthy growth. Because breast milk is:
high in calcium which is necessary for the growth of bones and teeth
high in protein
providing required fat for energy
milk also has vital vitamins needed for children’s growth
But what about rice milk in this case? It is low in protein and fat. Therefore, rice milk is not recommended for toddlers. It cannot be a replacement for breast milk, cow’s milk, or soy milk.
Hence, rice milk cannot be considered for babies. Just be watchful about it.
Uses of Rice Milk
1. Uses of rice milk for skincare
Apart from the said health benefits, rice milk is also used for skin care by women.
Regularly using rice milk makes your skin glow and allows it to lighten and brighten. Rice milk also helps lighten scars and dark spots. The oil produced by your skin is naturally reduced and balanced so your pores do not become clogged or blemished. The reason is the presence of specific types of antioxidants and acids.
One of the main ingredients in many skin beauty products today is rice milk.
A study by PubMed says resveratrol-enriched rice or rice milk is novel and safe to use. It is so effective as a natural source of skin-whitening-agent.
2. Uses of Rice Milk Soap
Making rice milk soaps. This type of soap has become popular in the cosmetic industry. This also vouches for the skincare qualities of rice milk. They claim that rice milk soap:
- gives a whitening effect on the face
- make your face glow
- promotes skin tone on a regular use
- clears scars and dark spots on the face
- is a great moisturizing agent
- cures dark lips
So, what more could expect? Since rice milk soap is safe to use, it is worth trying. Go nowhere you can make your rice milk soap at home easily. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to make rice milk soap at home.
3. Rice Milk Benefits For Hair
Today many rice milk-based hair products are available in online and offline markets. That itself speaks for itself use of rice milk has come a long way for women. Here are the uses of rice milk in relation to hair care:
- Hair conditioner for daily use
- Moisturizers spays
- Detangling for curly hair
- Strengthening hair
- Repairing damaged hair
- Providing natural moisture for dry hair
- Providing hair an extra slip
- Usefulness in maintaining curly hair and
- Best for protein-sensitive hairs
4. Soap Benefits
Collagen goes hand in hand with rice milk in many branded soaps in the market. Keep reading about how rice milk soap can benefit your skin:
- Gentle glow on your face after regular use
- Provides a whitening effect on your skin
- Assists to get uniformity in the tone of the skin
- Works as a good skin moisturizer agent
- Helps to lighten the face’s dark spots and scars
- Assists in removing excess oil secretion
- Use as super face scrub by making a paste with almond or gram flour
- Combine rice milk with honey to get more soft and smooth skin
- A good toner is made by mixing turmeric powder in rice milk. Another turmeric health benefit using it along with rice milk
- Helps to clear dark lips problem
- Natural antioxidant
- Solves acne and pimple issues on the face
Rice Milk Nutrients
Below are the rice milk nutrients according to FDC per 100g:
- Energy – 47 calories
- Water content – 89.28g
- Protein – 0.28g
- Lipid fat – 0.97g
- Carbohydrates – 9.17g
- Dietary Fiber – 0.3g
- Sugars – 5.28g
- Calcium – 118g
- Magnesium – 11mg
- Potassium – 27mg and
- Much more micronutrients
Rice Milk Side Effects and Risks
We spoke so much about rice milk’s benefits. Let us also look at what side effects rice milk can bring upon us:
- Obesity or Overweight: There are lots of carbs in rice milk. Drinking rice milk on a regular basis may lead to obesity.
- Arsenic substance: This is a toxic substance and unfortunately high in rice milk. It can affect the liver, kidneys, and stomach and in diabetes and heart disease. So, it can lead to potential health implications mainly in children.
- Low in Calcium: Too low in rice milk. Insufficient to meet daily requirements of calcium. Low intake of calcium affects bones and teeth in infants, growing children, and adults.
- Diabetes: Blood sugar levels can go up with the intake of rice milk. It’s because of the high carbs. Diabetics better take care of this.
- Low in Protein: Drinking rice milk does not suffice daily protein requirements. You have to add protein-rich food to your diet.
How to Make Rice Milk at Home?
It would be advisable to make homemade rice milk. Some rice milk from stores may have preservatives, sugars, and additives in it. These add-ons beat the purpose of having alternative milk from rice milk.
Basically, to make raw rice milk you need just brown rice and water. Brown rice is always a better choice because it is nourishing. It is a vegan and gluten-free drink too. Therefore, anyone can drink milk.
To make your rice milk delicious you may add any of the below:
- vanilla
- ground cinnamon
- Cocoa
- Carob powder
- Dates
- Or even other ingredients you may think are good
Let us now try and make a rice milk drink with dates:
Ingredients:
- 100g of cooked brown rice (about ½ a cup)
- A 500ml cup of water (about 2 cups)
- 3 to 4 dates (depending on the size)
Instructions:
- Put the rice, water, and dates in a blender
- Blend the ingredients until it becomes smooth
- Drain the mixture using a strainer (you may use cheesecloth or napkin. You may use it without straining also. It depends on your taste and how you wanted to have it)
- Place the rice milk in a sealed container
- Store the container in a refrigerator
You could use rice milk for three to four days. Depending on your usage, increase the ingredients proportionately to make rice milk.
How to make Rice Milk for Natural Hair?
One of the uses of rice milk is for natural hair. It makes your hair healthy, soft, and shiny. It also works like a homemade hair conditioner and a moisturizer. Further, it helps in removing tangling from your hair.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of plain rice milk
- ½ Avocado
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon of Amla oil
- 25% ripe banana
Instructions:
- Place all the ingredients into a blender
- Blend the ingredients until it becomes a cream
Application: Apply the rice milk puree on the hair with fingers to detangle hair from the roots.
Approximate nutrition per serving: 34 Calories, 0.1g fat, 7.5g carbs, 0.1g dietary fiber, 4mg sodium, and 0.7 protein
How to make a Rice Milk Hair Conditioner and Moisturizer spray?
This is a simple way of making a homemade hair conditioner and moisturizer with rice milk. If you have the ingredients ready it is a matter of just 5 minutes only.
- 2 tablespoons of plain rice milk
- 2 tablespoons of apricot or 2 tablespoons of lime
- Water
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (Rice bran oil instead also fits well)
- 1 spray bottle (about 8 oz capacity)
Instructions:
- Put all the ingredients (except water) into the spray bottle
- Close the spray bottle and shake thoroughly to mix well
- Open the spray bottle and fill it up with water
- Again, close the spray bottle and shake thoroughly
- That’s it your hair spray is now ready
How to make Rice Milk Soap?
Many famous cosmetic companies are using rice-based ingredients to make skincare soap. Rice-based ingredients such as Rice milk, Rice oil, Rice extract, and Rice starch.
All rice bran oil is a heavily used ingredient in soap. It has most of the important substances necessary for skin care. Rice bran oil is rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and beauty-elevating substances. Rice bran oil has similar qualities to olive oil. Cheaper in price compared to olive oil.
Ingredients:
- 200g of Jasmine rice or Brown rice (1 cup)
- 800g of water (4 cups)
- 350g of Lye
- 800g of palm oil
- 600g of olive oil or Rice bran oil
- 800g of coconut oil
Instructions:
- Boil the water
- While boiling add the rice to it
- Set the stove to simmer (this is to maintain below the boiling point of water)
- Cook the rice for about 15 minutes
- After cooking if there is excess water let it be.
- Let the rice cool down completely to room temperature
- Now blend the rice into thick rice milk or paste
- Strain the rice milk to remove fiber
- Freeze the rice milk in a refrigerator
- After a couple of hours put the rice milk into a new bowl and make smaller cubes
- Slowly add lye over the melting cubes. Mix well for cubes and lye blend together. (use a spoon and add lye little by little).
- Strain it again to a new bowl
- Add the oils now and mix it well (again gradually add with a spoon to blend well)
- Pour the paste into a silicone mold and freeze it again
- Voila! Your rice milk soap is ready for use
Use homemade rice milk soap regularly and enjoy all the skin benefits.
Takeaway
Rice milk is used as an alternative milk for those who are intolerant to lactose and casein protein. Those who are allergic to soy and almond milk can opt for rice milk.
Rice milk is vegan-friendly because it is plant-based milk. It has many health benefits as described above in the article. Take note of the side effects of rice milk as well.
Apart from health benefits rice milk is also heavily used in skincare and haircare in many forms. The good thing about rice milk is it hardly causes allergies.
Know how to make rice milk at home. For the purposes of drinking, skincare, and hair care in this article and enjoy the benefits.
9 Sources
Noble Home Remedies relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations for accuracy and reliability while avoiding tertiary references. Our editorial policy provides more information about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date.
- The ins and outs of unsaturated fats » Dietitians Australia – https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/smart-eating-for-you/smart-eating-fast-facts/nourishing-nutrients/the-ins-and-outs-of-unsaturated-fats/
- How well do plant-based alternatives fare nutritionally compared to cow’s milk? (nih.gov) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5756203/
- Health benefits of selected vitamins (nih.gov) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479519/
- Spinal bone loss in postmenopausal women supplemented with calcium and trace minerals – PubMed (nih.gov) – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8027856/
- Free Radicals, Antioxidants in Disease and Health (nih.gov) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614697/
- Resveratrol-Enriched Rice Down-Regulates Melanin Synthesis in UVB-Induced Guinea Pigs Epidermal Skin Tissue (nih.gov) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4201217/
- Full article: Assessment of thiamine content in some dairy products and rice milk (tandfonline.com) – https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19476337.2013.814713
- 11 Wonderful Benefits Of Rice Milk Soap For Your Skin – https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-rice-milk-soap-for-your-skin/#gref
- Can I Drink Milk If I Have Diabetes – https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/can-i-drink-milk-if-i-have-diabetes/
Rice milk is one of the best alternatives of dairy milk and contains most carbohydrates compared to almond and soy milk which is considered as one of the key drivers for the growth of the market.