Rice and carrots: two healthy foods, especially in summer!

Rice and carrots are a perfect match for summer. Discover with us their properties and a tasty recipe!

Whether you eat it in the form of risotto, rice salad, dessert or sushi, rice is certainly an important resource for health.

Rice contains abundant potassium and is low in sodium, so it is very suitable for people suffering from arterial hypertension and kidney failure. The low lipid content and the high intake of essential fatty acids also make this cereal useful in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

It is also an easily digestible food thanks to the reduced size of starch granules.

Of course, the carbohydrate component is important (therefore people with diabetes should eat it with moderation or prefer long grains) but, in general, it performs a regulatory action on the intestinal flora.

Brown rice, on the other hand, also has a high content of proteins, vitamins and minerals that help intestinal functions thanks to its fibres.

Naturally gluten-free, it can be consumed by coeliacs.

There are more than 150 varieties of rice in Italy and you can learn more about them here.

Starting from June, however, carrots are one of the most popular foods in the summer diet.

Also in this case, it is a very versatile food, to be eaten raw, in salads, cooked, or used in many preparations.

Carrots (of whose plant we eat roots!) are a veritable mine of vitamins and minerals, are cholesterol-free but loaded with sugar and have beneficial effects, especially on skin thanks to beta-carotene.

It is the so-called “vitamin A precursor”, has an antioxidant, anti-tumor action and promotes cell growth, for the skin stimulating the production of melanin and for the eyes improving night vision.

The summer dessert recipe

The sweet carrot pie is a very simple dessert, light and tasty.

It has got summer and citrus tones and you can even cook it in a savoury version, replacing fruit syrup in the dough with cheese. If you have a sweet tooth, you can cover it with melted dark chocolate!

Which variety to use? Find it out in the complete recipe on www.risotto.us.

Did you like the article? Book your experience with the Expert Giulia and learn more about the fascinating world of Italian rice!

Giulia is a licensed tourist guide for the provinces of Vercelli, Novara and Pavia. You will discover Carnaroli and Nero Artemide, a very fragrant cross between Nero Venere and Basmati. You will be engaged in cooking classes on rice and panissa, in the harvest of blueberries and berries. You will enter the world of the Sensory Analysis of Rice with Sommeliers of this cereal.