Black rice for Diabetes control
Rice Rice Rice
Rice is one of the ubiquitous grains in the world, is a mainstay for Indian families. This edible starchy cereal grain is found in our breakfast, lunch & dinner. It is a good source of glucose that supplies the body with its needed energy. Not all Rice grains are made equal! Most rices are starchy and just have zero nutritional value eg. polished rice grains which cause not only obesity but also could be one of the culprits for the onset of diabetes. So it’s very important we choose our rice grains with a good knowledge of its origins and the benefits
We, at Let'sLive, present to you Black Rice - A grain which is power packed with nutrients. We want to focus today on how Black rice helps regulate sugar levels and if diabetes patients can eat black rice to control their blood sugar levels? Let's find out!
Black Rice – Karuppu Kavuni rice (Tamil name)
Black rice (Zizania aquatica) or “forbidden rice” is a rice variety with amazing health benefits derived from its rich content of antioxidants, iron, and vitamin E content. The presence of anthocyanin pigment on the outermost layer of the rice kernel gives its attractive black color. The traits in black rice are due to rearrangement of the Kala4 gene, which activates the production of anthocyanins. Black rice has higher levels of protein, fiber, vitamin B (thiamin and riboflavin), folic acid, and minerals (iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorous, and selenium) than white rice. Lysine and tryptophan are the major essential amino acids present in black rice. It is a rich source of tocopherols (vitamin E), iron, and antioxidants which helps in improving health and increasing life span.
What are Anthocyanins?
Anthocyanins are colored water-soluble pigments belonging to the phenolic group. Anthocyanins responsible for the colors, red, purple, and blue, are in fruits and vegetables. Berries, currants, grapes, and some tropical fruits have high anthocyanin content. Red to purplish blue-colored leafy vegetables, grains, roots, and tubers are edible vegetables that contain a high level of anthocyanins. As it acts as an antioxidant, it helps in fighting free radicals.
And What are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are toxic by-products of oxygen metabolism which can cause significant damage to living cells and tissues. So antioxidant-rich food is necessary to fight the free radicals (oxidative stress). Anthocyanin also has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, and anti-viral properties.
Black Rice and Diabetes
Rice in general is a complete no-no for a diabetes patient. The popular food grain is said to be bad since it can lead to obesity and lead to erratic blood sugar levels. This is why people who are watching their weight or anyone suffering from diabetes are advised to stay away from rice. Polished white rice is rich in starchy carbohydrates and can lead to sudden after-meal spikes in blood glucose, leading to health complications in diabetic patients. The body of a normal person is capable of tightly regulating the levels of blood sugar at any given point of time, through metabolic homeostasis. But in a diabetes patient, either this mechanism is broken down as is the case with Type-2 diabetes patients or the body is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar, as happens in the case with Type-1 diabetes.
But not all varieties of rice are bad for diabetics. Black rice in particular may actually help patients with Type-2 diabetes regulate the symptoms of diabetes. Anthocyanins present in Black rice act against free radicals and so help diabetics get protection from cell damage and fight inflammation. They are also great for protecting heart function. Black rice is rich in fibre, which helps in the slow release of glucose in the blood thus preventing any sudden spikes in blood sugar levels. Black rice whole grains have their bran and endosperm intact, which is what makes them rich in fibre, which is digested slowly by the body. Black rice, therefore, also promotes satiety and may help one fight obesity, which is a risk factor for diabetes.
Black rice may be a good addition to a diabetic diet, but we advise you to consult your nutritionist or dietitian to know the exact amount of black rice that you can safely include in your daily meals. Besides eating healthy, fiber-rich foods, it is also important for diabetics to engage in some physical activity to regulate their symptoms.
Black Rice - Let’sLive Products
Let’sLive procures black rice from its farmers directly. The produce is carefully stored after harvest and sent to our customers after due testing. No preservatives are used for storage purposes. As and when orders are received, the product is cleaned and sent to customers directly. Our technically qualified team coaches and transfer advanced technology to our farmers to better utilize resources and save the environment from unnecessary wastages.
Shop Black Rice – Karuppu Kavuni
Black Rice - An organic produce
We wish to educate our customers that the rice purchased from Let’sLive is 100% organic, i.e, no insecticide or pesticides have been used. Since the rice is packed as harvested, it attracts life around it. Harvested rice is full of energy and vitality, naturally it attracts bugs. This proves the organic nature of our produce. We request our customers to transfer the contents immediately into an air-tight container after it is opened. A piece of red chilli and few neem leaves will enhance the shelf life of the produce.
About Let’sLive
Let’sLive is a social empowerment enterprise committed to enhancing and improving the livelihoods of tribal and farming communities. We work directly with small-scale farmers so that our customers can get access to products that are natural, pristine, and picked from the lap of nature. We encourage and provide advice for practicing ethical farming and eco-friendly methods to all those who partner with us.
At Let'sLive we are passionate about bringing in 100% all-natural and healthy products directly from the farming and tribal communities to your doorstep like Pure Raw Honey, Traditional varieties of rice, etc. We want our consumers to enjoy and have direct access to the products that are pristine and picked directly from the lap of nature. The mandates by which we operate are:
* Value every life around us by encouraging ethical farming
* Leverage local knowledge and promote legacy harvesting practices with high hygienic standards
* No preservatives or artificial processing on any of our products
* Each product can be traced back to its origins and the people involved in its making
* Educate consumers on the importance of consuming rich and natural local produce