Black Rice- The New Antioxidant Rich Superfood
Expensive fruits, vegetables and dietary supplements are not the only sources of antioxidants. Recently researchers from Louisiana State University unveiled the antioxidant properties of an inexpensive food that is largely ignored by us – black rice.
Black rice – A powerhouse of nutrients
Black rice is a black colored rice variant that features mainly in the Chinese and Indonesian cuisines. For centuries, it was the food of the emperors in China.
The common people in China were not allowed to eat the rice, which was meant solely for the rulers of the country, hence in China black rice is also known as ‘forbidden rice’.
Recent studies have shown that black rice is a powerhouse of nutrients. It could be easily included in the superfood category. This rice variant is a rich source of iron, essential amino acids and fibers.
Black rice – source of antioxidants
Researchers of Louisiana State University Agriculture Center have found that compared with a spoonful of blueberries or blackberries, a spoonful of black rice bran contains more anthocyanin, a type of antioxidant compound.
In berries, anthocyanin is present in the pigment that gives the berries their colors. This phytonutrient could protect the body from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cognitive decline, cancers and several other health disorders.
Black rice owes its black or purple color to anthocianin. In an earlier study, researchers found that black rice extract helped to lower the lipid level in the blood. High lipid level causes accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques in the blood vessels, which eventually leads to heart attacks and stroke.
Black rice extract is an important ingredient in certain cholesterol lowering medications. It can reduce both the LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. In addition, black rice contains larger amounts of vitamin E and fibers than berries.
On the other hand, its sugar content is much smaller than that in berries. Vitamin E is present in the black rice bran as gamma-tocotrienol. This powerful antioxidant can protect you from several illnesses associated with oxidation stress.
Food for treating anemia
The iron rich black rice could boost the hemoglobin level in the blood. Iron deficiency anemia could be reduced with the help of black rice.
