Black rice is one of the sources of staple food with typical black color. Of course, you will feel strange to one of these foods. Black rice has a shape that is not much different from other rice but that distinguishes only the color is black. Black rice has a very interesting history. In ancient China, black rice was reserved for the emperor’s family only. In that era, if the poor people were caught consuming them without permission, they could lose their lives. Since then, this food has been nicknamed as forbidden black rice.
It happened in ancient times, now black rice can be consumed by anyone. Indonesia and the Philippines became one of the largest black rice cultivation locations in Southeast Asia. You do not have to doubt the health benefits of forbidden black rice because these foods are equipped with various types of essential nutrients. Nutritional content of black rice such as carbohydrates, calcium, energy, fiber, iron, magnesium, protein, phosphorus and also vitamins have good health benefits.
Compared to the other two rice, black rice tends to be more difficult to obtain. The grain of black rice is shiny and longer and slimmer. The color of this rice will slightly fade and turn into purple after cooking.
Nutritional content of forbidden black rice!
In 100 grams of black rice, there are nutrients such as:
- Energy 362 kcal
- Carbohydrates 76.17 g
- Fatty Acid 0.536 g
- Fiber 3.4 g
- Water 12.37 g
- Alanine 0.437 g
- Arginine 0.569 g
- Ash 1.27 g
- Aspartic Acid 0.702 g
- Calcium 33 mg
- Copper 0.277 mg
- Cystine 0.091 g
- Folate 20 mcg
- Glutamic Acid 1.528 g
- Glycine 0.369 g
- Histidine 0.190 g
- Iron 1.80 mg
- Isoleucine 0.318 g
- Leucine 0.620 g
- Lysine 0.286 g
- Magnesium 143 mg
- Manganese 3.743 mg
- Methionine 0.169 g
- Niacin 4,038 mg
- Pantothenic acid 1.493 mg
- Phenylalanine 0.387 g
- Phosphorus 264 mg
- Potassium 268 mg
- Proline 0.352 g
- Protein 7.50 g
- Riboflavin 0.043 mg
- Serine 0.388 g
- Sodium 4 mg
- Thiamin 0.413 mg
- Threonine 0.275 g
- Fat 2.68 g
- Tryptophan 0.096 g
- Tyrosine 0.281 g
- Valine 0.440 g
- Vitamin B6 0.509 mg
- Zinc 0.02 mg
Black rice has higher nutritional benefits compared to white rice and Benefits of Brown Rice, even when both are combined. Black rice is rich in fiber and contains antioxidants, phytonutrients, phytochemicals, vitamin E, protein, iron, and other nutrients. It is believed to bring health benefits to the liver, kidneys, and stomach. This anthocyanin content will help Prevent Cancer Naturally.
Black rice is one of the staples food that low sugar and has a low glycemic index value. This rice is highly recommended for patients with heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. According to Zhimin Zu, Professor of Louisiana and State University, USA, black rice contains more antioxidants and anthocyanins. A spoonful of black rice provides health benefits greater than a spoonful of blueberries. Black rice contains fewer sugars but more fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. According to research conducted by Sebelas Maret University (UNS), Prof. Dr. Ir. Edi Purwanto, M.Sc explains that black rice contains anthocyanin and iron which is three times the amount compared to iron in white rice.
Health benefits of forbidden black rice!
- Maintain heart health
Black rice can help maintain heart health. If you regularly consume it then you will have a healthy heart. In addition, anthocyanin content in it will work by preventing plaque buildup in the arteries so as to avoid the risk of heart attack. You have to know about Heart Attack Symptoms, so you can do anything to prevent it, for example by consuming black rice.
- Preventing obesity
Obesity occurs when there is a buildup of fat that causes the body to be fat out of bounds. Of course, this will affect your health condition. One way to prevent obesity is to consume black rice. Content that is in it used to lose weight so as to avoid the Health Risks of Obesity.
- Prevent diarrhea
Other benefits of these foods are also able to prevent diarrhea. The fiber content contained in it eases the removal of food debris from the body, thus preventing the occurrence of diarrhea. Read also about How to Prevent Diarrhea.
- Decrease the risk of diabetes
If you are diabetic then it is good if you start regularly consuming black rice. The content of antioxidants and other nutrients contained in these foods help slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. So it is well consumed by diabetics.
- As an effective antioxidant
Black rice is used as an effective antioxidant to prevent the emergence of various types of diseases. The high content of antioxidants will help prevent various types of chronic diseases in the body.
- Natural dyes on food
The pigment content of black rice extract can produce a variety of colors, ranging from black to pink. That way you can use it as a natural dye in food.
- Helps detoxify the body
Detoxification is a process of reducing substances that are toxic from the body. By consuming black rice it will be useful to help the body detoxification process. The content of phytonutrients is useful to help rid the body of harmful substances.
- Build a healthy digestive system
In addition, black rice is also beneficial to build a healthy digestive system in the body. One of the Health Benefits of Fiber in it will be useful to create the condition of the digestive system to always be healthy.
- Free of gluten content
Black rice proved to be free of gluten content. This content can cause various problems in the digestion. Therefore, by consuming black rice, you will be free of digestive problems associated with gluten sensitivity.
- Control weight
By eating black rice it will help you to control your weight. The calorie content in it will be useful to provide a sense of satiety longer, so you will not experience weight gain despite consuming in large quantities.
- High in antioxidant content
Black rice has a high anthocyanin content. The content of anthocyanin in black rice is the highest compared to other types of rice. Anthocyanin has been studied and proven to prevent heart disease and protect against any kind of inflammation that is at the core of many common diseases such as asthma, arthritis, and cancer. Diet program that incorporates black rice in the diet menu has also been shown to lower triglycerides (bad fats in the blood) and increase HDL levels, also known as good cholesterol.
- High protein
A bowl of black rice contains a lower carbohydrate than red rice, but higher in fiber and protein. 100 g of black rice provides 17% of your daily protein intake.
- Rich in vitamins and minerals
Black rice contains many important vitamins and minerals, including vitamins E, B1, B2, B3, and B6, as well as zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus. B complex vitamins help the body release energy and treat it effectively so you can do your activities throughout the day.
While the Benefits of Magnesium For Health and iron in it helps fight fatigue. One serving of black rice meets 8 percent of the daily intake of zinc, 6 percent of iron, and 20 percent of the daily value for phosphorus. Zinc is a mineral that supports the performance of the body’s immune system, while phosphorus is needed for the formation of teeth and bones. Black rice also contains riboflavin which plays an important role by providing protection to cells from oxidative stress, cancer due to free radicals.
- Improve the sharpness of brain function
In addition to protecting the body against cancer, the content of anthocyanin in black rice can improve the sharpness of memory and cognitive function of the brain, by fighting oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress contributes to memory decrease and inflammation in the brain.
- Prevent IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Another function possessed by fiber contained in black rice is that it can help prevent the occurrence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This is a disturbance of digestive function characterized by the emergence of discomfort such as pain in the abdomen when a person is defecating even there is no absence of structural abnormalities and anatomy of impurities issued. One of the factors causing this disorder is due to the disruption of movement in the digestive tract.
- Overcoming Anemia
You who often feel weak because of lack of blood (anemia) seems to have started to consume black rice. The black rice itself is known to contain high iron. One of the Health Benefits of Iron is has the role in the formation of red blood cells (hemoglobin) in the body. By having this substance, black rice is one of the foods that work as Anemia Treatments Naturally.
- Anti Aging
Black rice is known to contain stronger antioxidant substances than ordinary rice. Eating black rice will make you look younger and always fit and healthy. This is related to the content of antioxidants in black rice that can repair damaged body cells. Consuming black rice is believed to slow down the aging process and is touted as an anti-aging food ingredient.
- Prevent cancer
According to research that has been done, black rice is useful in preventing the development of cancer cells in the body. This is closely related to the content of antioxidants, anthocyanins contained in the outer layer of black rice. Anthocyanin is a very powerful antioxidant that plays an active role in preventing cancer. This substance is what makes black rice more special because the substance is not found in other rice.
Other health benefits of forbidden black rice :
- Work as anti-inflammation
- Controlling cholesterol levels – anthocyanin pigments found in black rice help keep cholesterol levels in the blood. Black rice can be used to prevent Health Risks of Cholesterol.
That is the health benefits that owned by black rice, making black rice a unique rice than any other rice.