Black Rice/ Forbidden Rice:
Lately, we have been hearing a lot about Forbidden Rice/ Black rice. Does it really have such health benefits? Is it a myth? Let’s get into elaborate details about this beautiful Black Rice.
And yes, if you like to purchase this healthy organic Black Rice, visit the best online organic website www.ulamart.com.
Why Black Rice is called as Forbidden Rice?
Black rice has been a popular rice in China. It is also called as Forbidden rice/ emperor rice as it was given as a tribute food to Emperor. Black rice is rich in antioxidants, it improves health and longevity and was forbidden to common people. The color in black rice is known to be due to anthocyanin pigments. Black rice turns into purple rice when cooked, so some countries also call it as purple rice. And now, we are lucky enough to taste this superfood without being an emperor or from a royal family.
What is Anthocyanin?
Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid, a class of compounds with antioxidant effects. It is a natural pigment found in fruits, grains plants that can give red, blue,purple or black color to plants. As it acts as an antioxidant, it helps in fighting free radicals.
And What are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are toxic byproducts of oxygen metabolism which can cause significant damage to living cells and tissues. So antioxidant rich food are necessary to fight the free radicals (oxidative-stress) . Anthocyanin also has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-viral properties.
Nutrition Value:
NUTRITIONAL VALUE PER 1/4 CUP OF BLACK RICE (COOKED) | |
Calories | 160 gms |
Total fat | 2 gms |
Cholesterol | 0 mg |
Sodium | 4 mg |
Potassium | 268 gms |
Total carbs | 34 gms |
Dietary fiber | 3 gms |
Sugar | 0 gms |
Protein | 5 gms |
Iron | 6% (of daily value) |
Black rice/ Forbidden Rice Benefits:
Now let’s get into some of the interesting health benefits of black rice. Black rice has got innumerable health benefits, some of which are listed below.
1. Aids in weight loss/prevents obesity:
Obesity is one of today’s common predominant illnesses, which is taken for granted and not given importance as to other diseases. The truth is obesity leads to many forms of diseases.
Black rice is rich in protein and fibre, which makes us feel full and reduces the appetite. This naturally aids in promoting weight loss.
Further studies and research on animals, has proved that anthocyanin greatly aids in reduction of body weight.
Consuming Black rice 3 times a week along with brown/ red rice and calorie restricted diet, will help in reduction of body fat, when compared to consuming white rice.
2. Rich in Antioxidants:
Miraculously Black rice has got the highest amount of antioxidants when compared to all other rice varieties. Higher the amount of antioxidants, higher the health benefits. It protects our cells and tissues from damage.
3. Fights Cancer:
Oxidative stress can build up in our body, due to several imbalances in our day to day activities and habits. It leads to various health issues including cancer. Since Black rice is rich in antioxidant, studies and research are being done to prove that Black rice cures many types of cancer.
4. Prevents risk of diabetes:
Black rice is rich in dietary fibre , which takes longer to digest and sugar is released slowly and for a longer period. This prevents the sudden boost of blood sugar levels, when compared to white rice. So Black Rice prevents the spiking of insulin levels and makes it suitable for diabetic patients and prevent Type-2 diabetes.
5. Improves and protects heart health:
Studies conducted on animals has proved that Black rice protects from various types of heart diseases.
Anthocyanin aids in reducing cholesterol level. Black rice reduces LDL and triglycerides. Plaque build-up clogs the arteries and leads to problems like stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, kidney problems. Consuming black rice on a regular basis has proven to reduce atherosclerotic plaque build-up.
Keep your heart healthy by consuming Black rice.
6. Natural liver Detoxifier:
Black rice is a natural detoxifier. The phytonutrients present in the black rice helps the liver to eliminate unwanted toxins from our body. The antioxidants in black rice regulates the metabolism of fatty acids and reduces bad cholesterol which in-turn cures fatty liver disease.
7. Cures Asthma & Reduces Inflammation:
Studies shows that the black rice extract has proven to reduce chronic inflammation, edema and works wonders in suppressing allergies.
Anthocyanin has proved to prevent and reduce the asthmatic attacks. As black rice has anti-inflammatory properties, it reduces the inflammation of the airways and mucus hyper-secretion associated with respiratory diseases.
8. Protects from hypertension (BP):
The dietary fibre present in Black rice, reduces lipid levels and maintains blood pressure to be normal.
9. Improves Eye Health:
Overall eye health is improved by using Black Rice, studies prove that anthocyanins are highly effective in preventing and reducing the retinal damage.
10. Aids in healthy brain function:
Studies have proved that long term use of anthocyanin rich food improves the cognitive ability by reducing the oxidative stress thereby maintaining healthy brain functioning.
Research are still being conducive to prove that Black rice can also prevent Alzhiemer’s disease.
11. High fiber – Gluten-Free – improves digestive health:
As a Whole grain rice, Black rice is rich in dietary fibre that naturally improves the digestive health of our gut.
12. Rich in Protein Content
Forbidden rice is rich in protein content when compared to all other types of rice. This adds extra benefit to vegetarians, as black rice becomes a good source of protein to our diet. Protein becomes an important part of our diet to build and repair tissues.
FAQ
Is Black Rice healthy?
Black rice is considered as a new superfood, it has got abundant micronutrients and antioxidant as equivalent to blueberries. Black rice is definitely a good addition to your diet, when compared to white / brown rice.
Is Forbidden rice Gluten free?
Yes, Black rice is naturally gluten free. It is very rare to find a gluten-free whole grain. Black rice helps us with gluten free diet and best cure for coeliac disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
Is black rice good for diabetes?
Definitely, Black rice is good for diabetic patients and reduces the risk of acquiring diabetes. Emperor Rice regulates blood sugar levels as it is rich in fibre, glucose is released slowly in blood.
Is Purple rice good for weight loss?
Yes, Black rice helps in reducing weight and fight obesity. The dietary fibre present in black rice, takes time to digest which gives a feeling of fullness.
Naturally unnecessary food cravings will be reduced with aids in balancing body weight.
What are the side effects of eating black rice?
Black rice doesn’t have any proven side effects. Since its a rich source of fibre, intake of other fibre rich food along with it may cause some bloating, which will subside quickly.
Is black rice keto / Paleo friendly?
Though black rice is gluten free, Keto / Paleo / Cave man’s diet eliminates all types of rice varieties. (As you know, cavemen didn’t eat rice or legumes) .So unfortunately, you cannot include the nutritious black rice in your Keto diet. But Black rice can be included in all other gluten-free diet plans.
Is Purple rice sticky?
Yes, some varieties of Black rice is also known as sticky rice. When cooked , the starch present in it makes it chewy and sticky, though the individual rice grains do not stick to one another.
What is the taste of black rice?
Black rice has a unique type of umami flavour, a natural mild sweetness with an addition of nutty flavour and aroma when compared to brown rice.
Where To Buy Black Rice?
UlaMart.com is the best choice for buying black rice. UlaMart purchases organic rice varieties directly from the farmers, so it serves its customers with best price and supreme quality.
How to cook Black rice?
Soaking time – 30 mins
1 cup rice – 2 cup water
Cooking time – 20 – 30 mins on low flame
How to add black rice to my diet?
You can use black rice as a replacement of white rice, or mix it along with white rice and consume as normal with curries and vegetables.
Purple rice can also be mixed with salads, to give your salad a boost of superfood.
Make use of Black rice powder, to prepare Pudding, Rice cakes, Pan cakes, Idly, Dosa etc.,
Black rice recipes: Black rice Pudding / Karupukavani Sweet
Ingredients
1 cup Black Rice
3 cups Water
1/2 cup Palm sugar , or jaggery
1/2 teaspoon Cardamom Powder
1/2 cup Fresh coconut , grated
1 teaspoon Ghee
Procedure
To begin making the Chettinad Kavuni Arisi Sweet recipe, wash the rice and soak adding lots of water for about 8 hours or overnight.
- Drain the water and add the rice to a pressure cooker. Pour 3 cups of water to the rice, drained water can also be used.
- Pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles. Once the pressure seizes, open the lid of cooker.
- Add palm sugar or jaggery along with cardamom powder to the rice. Mix and keep cooking on medium flame by mashing with a ladle.
- Add grated coconut to it and mix well. Cook until it becomes thick.
- Remove from flame and add in ghee. Mix and serve warm.
- Serve Chettinad Kavuni Arisi Sweet after your simple meal of Vegetable Sambar, Steamed Rice and Elai Vadam on a weekday.
