Rice is a staple for many households across the world. No matter how many debates revolve around the consumption of this little grain, it will still be an inseparable part of various delicacies across the world. With the growing health consciousness of people, there has been an increase in the demand of healthy alternatives of rice like Black rice, Brown rice and Red rice.
What is black rice?
Of late, black rice is a fad among health freaks and this is only because of its umpteen health benefits. Black Rice which is also known as Purple rice and Asian rice hails from the Oryza Sativa specie. Some variants of this rice species are glutinous in texture. Black rice is majorly cultivated in Asian countries like China, Indonesia, Myanmar and India among others. In India, it is majorly grown in the eastern region, and is popularly known as Chak-hao in Manipur. Besides, it is used to prepare a variety of desserts.
Interestingly, Black rice in ancient times was a prized possession and was popularly known as the Forbidden rice or Emperor's rice, the name of this rice is as interesting as its story. As the name implies, a proper permission from royal authorities was a mandate to consume this rice. Eating this rice without seeking permission had life threatening consequences. In China, black rice was exclusively used for the consumption of royal families, which is why it was also known as Emperor’s rice. Known for its natural healing powers and health benefits, it was cultivated only for the elite classes and the quantity was also limited as the the authorities took charge of every single grain and made stringent laws to withhold it from public consumption.
Why Black rice?
Enriched with the goodness of nature, black rice is loaded with the goodness of fiber, protein, iron, vitamin E and antioxidants. What makes black rice different from other variants of rice is the presence of an antioxidant -- anthocyanin, which amps up the health quotient of this rice. The colour of this rice changes to deep purple when it is cooked and it is due to high level of antioxidant called anthocyanin. Moreover, the earthy and nutty taste of this rice makes it perfect for a variety of delicacies.
Health benefits of Black rice
A powerhouse of antioxidants, protein, iron, vitamins and minerals; This Purple rice is loaded with enormous health benefits, which makes it a perfect healthy option to go for! Here’s how the consumption of this magical superfood helps in preventing from various diseases and promotes good health.
Works as a natural detoxifier:
Hectic lifestyle, junk eating habits and use of various substances often lead to several life threatening diseases. However, natural detoxification often helps in preventing several diseases. Black rice is a rich source of phytonutrients, which works as a natural detoxifier and pulls out disease causing free radicals from the body. You can also add
to your diet, as they are loaded with detoxifying properties.
Good for Liver
One of the pivotal organs of our body is the liver, which performs several functions that help in proper functioning of the digestive system. Black rice helps in detoxifying the body and extracting all the toxin particles with antioxidant activities.
Helps in weight loss
Apart from being rich in antioxidants, black rice is a great source of fiber. One cup of black rice has approx 6 grams of fiber, which helps the body to stay satiated and makes you feel full even if you consume small quantities of it. Moreover, the high-fiber content of black rice helps in easing out the bowel movements, relieves bloating, diarrhea and prevents constipation. The soluble fiber of black rice binds with the toxins and effectively pulls out the waste from the body. This further leads to weight loss.
Helps keep diabetes at bay
Patients with high sugar levels are often advised to cut down on sugar as well as carbohydrates. It is often advised to go for whole grains rather than going for refined carbs. Well, black rice is high on fiber and low in carbs, which makes it an apt choice for diabetes patients. In fact, the bran, which is the outer coating of rice has the majority of fiber content. The fiber of black rice helps the body to absorb the glucose over a long period of time, which further helps in maintaining a balance of sugar level.
What makes black rice a much preferred healthy grain is the umpteen health benefits it offers! However, over cooking it can result in loss of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Here are a few steps of cooking this rice to retain its goodness.
*As we already mentioned that the cooking time of black rice can reduce the natural health benefits, so in order to retain the nutrients it is essential to soak it overnight, this will make the raw rice tender and will reduce the prepartion time.
*Choosing the right quality of black rice is quite a task, but while narrowing down your search always remember, to go for the darker variant as darker the colour of the rice, better the quality will be!
*To use this rice in various dishes, cook it on low flame and refrigerate it and use it to prepare delicacies of your choice.
*Switching to a healthy alternative is not easy and it takes a lot of time to adjust with the taste, so it is always advised to introduce black rice in smaller portions to adapt to the taste.
Interesting Black rice recipe!
What makes Black rice a perfect healthy option to go for is the amazing nutty taste, which goes pretty well with a variety of recipes. Here are a few interesting preparations with this healthy rice:
Black Rice Risotto
This Italian dish is a juicy amalgamation of black rice cooked with a melange of herbs and spices, cheese and veggies. The addition of black rice simply amps up the health quotient of this dish.
Chicken and black rice
Chicken and black rice recipe is a healthy delectable recipe, which is perfect for all the health conscious people.