Cheryl's 99p superfood is perfect if you want glowing skin and low cholesterol

The Girl's Aloud popstar enjoys this tasty dish as part of a balanced diet - but it's full of more benefits than meets the eye

You'd be forgiven for thinking that a bowl of rice was something bland and boring at first glance. However, it's anything but that to former X Factor judge Cheryl.

In an interview with Marie Claire, the now 41-year-old opened up about her go-to dinner options as a busy mum. She found herself with a watering mouth when talking about having a "really lovely" local Thai restaurant near her home.

She confessed her favourites were Pad Thai as well as some coconut rice. This tasty dish gets its unique flavour from being cooked in a mixture of coconut milk and water.

It's commonplace around Asia but isn't something unobtainable in the UK. In fact, you can grab a packet that's ready in minutes from your local Aldi for just 99p.

Beyond being tasty, this rice is packed with added health benefits, which it owes to the coconut. Its lactose-free milk is rich in vitamins B, C, and E, as well as essential minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium. The healthy fats in coconut rice may also help reduce cholesterol levels.

Beyond your internal health, coconut rice is known for having great effects on your skin too. Vitamin E helps to promote collagen production which is a known to help smooth out your skin and prevent wrinkles.

Collagen, which we naturally make in our bodies, is essential for our skin, bones, hair and nails. However, production starts to slow down when we approach our thirties - meaning people often supplement or look at increasing that production through diet choices.

Rice, in general, can also help those looking to lose weight, as it is very filling. The filling power of rice comes from its high fibre content. For example, the Aldi pack has 3g of fibre in its 250g pouch - which counts towards the NHS recommendation of about 30g per day.

But, before stocking up and planning to add rice into every meal, it should be said that this is best eaten in moderation. Overconsuming coconut rice can lead to weight gain, as the body stores excess carbohydrates as fat.

Despite being lactose-free, the rice may not be suitable for everyone (i.e. those allergic to coconut). It might be best to check with a medical professional if you are thinking of making major dietary changes.