Calories in Rice Paper

Rice paper is a special type of paper that originated in Asia. There are different types of rice paper depending on what they are made from. The "true" rice paper that is made from rice flour is relatively rare. When people in China began cultivating mulberry trees for rearing silkworms, they boiled the barks of mulberry trees to make a kind of smooth, strong paper. This was known as shoji paper and was extensively used in painting, origami, and for making artifacts. Paper made from the bark fibers of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) is also called rice paper. This kind of paper was more commonly used in Japan. Another plant that is used to manufacture paper is the rice paper plant (Tetrapanax papyrifer) that grows in parts of Taiwan. The pith or inner wood of the plant is extracted and rolled out on a flat surface. It is then cut to form sheets that are white, translucent and fine-textured.

However, edible rice paper (one that is used for wrapping rolls) is made from a mixture of rice flour and tapioca flour with some salt added to it. You can even make edible rice paper at home. Here, we shall find out what rice paper has to offer in terms of nutritional value.

How Many Calories Does Rice Paper Have?
A small piece of rice paper is around 6 inches in diameter and has close to 20 calories. Medium and large pieces have around 50 to 60 calories, respectively. A single 100 g piece of rice paper contains about 300 calories. A major part of the total calorie count of rice paper is due to carbohydrates. Proteins and fats contribute to around 10% of the calories. Given below is a graph that shows how each one of these contributes to the calories in rice paper.

A90%B7%C3%
What Contributes to Calories in Rice PaperA - Carbohydrates B - Protiens C - Fats

Now that we are aware of the number of calories in rice paper, let's learn a little about its nutritional value. Rice paper contains fat in a very small quantity, along with some protein. In addition to this, each 6-inch piece of rice paper has 19 mg of sodium, 4 mg of potassium, 0.125 g of dietary fiber and traces of phosphorous and vitamin B₆. Vitamin B₆ is essential for protein metabolism and synthesis of enzymes. Rice paper is used to wrap different food items to make variety of rolls. While rolls form a part of Asian cuisine, they are popular in other parts of the world as well.

Thus, we see that rice paper is not very nutritious but has very few calories. Also, the fact that it is free of gluten, makes it a good option for those who are allergic to this protein found in wheat and most other grains. So, the next time you feel the urge to calculate the calories in your favorite spring roll, you know what to do - just ignore the wrap and look what's inside!