What is Red rice and what are its benefits?
How many times have you been told to drastically lower the consumption of rice? Whether you are into muscle building or general fitness, it is almost the first thing that is said to you, not least by the masses. The idea that is popular amongst them is that rice increases weight and makes you fat. But do you know that there are tens of thousands of varieties of rice that help in reducing weight?
One such variety is the red rice. Composed of Anthocyanin, a water-soluble vacuolar pigment that gives the red hue to the grain, red rice is loaded with vital nutrients. This is because the husks of the rice grains are removed during the milling process, retaining all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Rice forms a major part of the staple diet down south. With all its nutritional benefits, red rice can be the perfect alternative to white one.
Some of its notable benefits are:
- Red rice contains more anti-oxidants than white or brown rice. Antioxidants help in fighting free radicals and in turn protect your skin from premature ageing.
- Red rice is rich in calcium and magnesium, which are essential for good bone health and can potentially serve as an antidote for arthritis, osteoporosis, and other bone-related diseases.
- The low glycemic index of red rice keeps the blood sugar levels in check, making it a go-to option to fight diabetics.
- Contrary to the popular knowledge about rice, Red rice helps in weight loss as it contains zero fat content while still taking care of your hunger pangs.
All these make red rice, not just desirable, but a much-needed staple food.