Black Rice – The New Superfood
Black Rice – A super food which is being consumed by millions in Asia over time immemorial
Rice is a staple for more than 3.5 billion people in the world and it constitutes about 20% or more of the daily calorie intake. With so many people consuming this rich nutrient, have you ever wondered what makes it so rich? Let’s dissect it.
Rice (Oryza Sativa), edible starchy cereal grain, belongs to the grass plant (family Poaceae) thru which it is produced. 95% of the crop harvested is consumed by human beings. Rice has become a mainstay in breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. With such huge consumption, it should be one of the best-known sources of food for humans right? It is true but in recent years, it has also been stated that rice directly aids in diabetic conditions.
Cultivation Areas
Many cultures have evidence of early rice cultivation, including China, India, and the civilizations of Southeast Asia. However, the earliest archaeological evidence comes from central and eastern China and dates to 7000–5000 BCE. More than 90 percent of the world’s rice is grown in Asia, principally in China, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, with smaller amounts grown in Japan, Pakistan, and various other Southeast Asian nations. Rice is also cultivated in parts of Europe, North and South America, and Australia.
India
India is one of the largest producers and consumers of rice in the world. Hundreds of different varieties of delicacies using rice are prepared in India. With a wide diversity of people and cultures associated with it, it is not a surprise to have that many recipes.
Rice is generally considered as a staple food high on energy and low on other nutrients compared to other staple grains. White rice became very popular over the years and still is. But lately due to various scientific studies that gave a thumbs down to white rice, the Indian population are on a hunt to rediscover its native rice varieties which are found in superfood category – ChakhaoAmubi, better known as Black Rice.
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 is Anthocyanin?
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 is organic and considered Super Food
Cultivation of black rice is very hardy and so the cultivation is usually done via organic farming. It requires less labor for ploughing, weeding, and management as compared to other rice varieties. Farmers avoid the application of chemical fertilizers since such applications enhance the vegetative growth of the black rice and increase the production of chaffy grains. However, the productivity of black rice is lower (~1.3-1.8 t/ha) as compared to hybrid and other traditional rice varieties (~2.0-5.5 t/ha) under normal conditions (Nepolion Borah et al, 2018). Nevertheless, state governments (particularly Manipur) are vigorously pursuing System of Rice Intensification (SRI) based black rice cultivation for enhancing the yield of the crop.
Nutrition value per 100g
| Name | Amount/Unit |
|---|---|
| Energy | 356 KCal |
| Protein | 8.89 g |
| Total Lipid (fat) | 3.33 g |
| Carbohydrate | 75.56 g |
| Fiber,total dietery | 2.2 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Calcium | 0 g |
| Iron | 2.4 mg |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg |
| Vitamin A | 0 mg |
| Fatty acids, total Saturated | 0 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0 g |
| Cholestrol | 0 mg |
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.
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.
Click on the left image to buy Black rice
Click on the right image to know how to use Black Rice
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