BLACK RICE
PLACE OF SOURCE - JALPAIGURI, WEST BENGAL
Black sticky rice is a variety of cultivated rice. What gives it the color, is the presence of an antioxidant called anthocyanin. What gives it the stickiness is the high level of amylopectin, which is a pigment found in fruits such as blueberries. Adding to that, the rice appears to be black also due to high melanin (a natural pigment) content in the bran.
Research has shown that black sticky rice has a higher antioxidant content and higher content of valuable phyto-chemical than blueberries. It is exceptional as it contains a mixture of both water soluble and fat-soluble classes of antioxidants, which is rare even among the best pulses and grains, like quinoa and millets.
In fact, the Chinese emperors so treasured this rice that it was decreed a grain meant to be consumed only by royalty. And this led to the rice being known as the “forbidden rice”.
Black sticky rice is a rich source of antioxidants due to the bran and germ layer found in the outer coating. It is considered a super food due to its high nutritive value and like other rice varieties, it is gluten free!
Health Benefits of Black Rice:
- Antioxidant boost - Black sticky rice is loaded with antioxidants. Anthocyanin content found in black sticky rice is said to be highest among all the grains. It is also believed that anthocyanin helps in preventing heart disease.
- Rich in fiber- Due to a high fiber content black sticky rice is believed to help lower bad cholesterol levels and control blood sugar levels. It is said to have double the amount of fiber as compared to the brown rice.
- Anti-inflammatory properties- Black sticky rice is said to help reduce inflammatory compounds in your body and increase the anti-inflammatory compounds. The increase in the anti-inflammatory compounds helps in reducing inflammation in various ailments like arthritis and allergies.
- Lower the risk of diabetes- Regular consumption of whole grains like black sticky rice helps lower the risk of Type 2 Diabetes and helps boost your energy levels.
- Promotes heart health- Black sticky Rice is said to help improve heart health by reducing the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries.
Black sticky rice is said to have double the amount of fiber as compared to brown rice. However, the milling process destroys many of the necessary vitamins and minerals from colored rice. So why is rice milled? On milling, rice weighs lesser and has a longer shelf life than the un-milled rice. This made milled rice more favorable with traders, making it a preferable grain for commercial purpose. This led to the global acceptance of white or milled rice over un-milled rice.
For more details and benefits of Black Rice
