Forget white rice, you should be eating purple rice instead
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If you’re heeding our Prime Minister’s call to wage war on diabetes, you might be considering making the switch from white rice to brown rice. But did you know that there’s another type of rice - purple rice - which has tons of health benefits as well? Read on to find out about purple rice, and why you should be incorporating it into your daily meals!
What is purple rice?
Purple rice is a specific species of rice (Oryza sativa L.), and it’s also known colloquially as black rice or forbidden rice. When raw, this comes in a dark purple or black colour; when cooked, it turns a deep, iridescent purple, courtesy of the large amount of anthocyanin antioxidants present. (According to a study presented at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), one cooked ounce of purple rice contains more anthocyanin antioxidants than an ounce of fresh blueberries!)
Why is it preferable over brown rice?
First things first - purple rice contains more protein and fibre than brown rice. In addition to this, as mentioned earlier, it's also loaded with anthocyanins, meaning that it packs in a ton more antioxidants as compared to brown rice. More specifically, according to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, purple rice contains 6 times more antioxidants than brown and white rice!
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What are the other health benefits of purple rice?
A study in the International Immunopharmacology Journal shows that this contains a number of compounds which help to reduce inflammatory responses in our bodies. This helps to protect us from bacterial, viral infections, and diseases associated with chronic inflammation (one example being dermatitis).
In addition to this, purple rice also helps to lower blood pressure, prevent hardening of the arteries, and reduce the likelihood of potential heart failure. According to research published in The Journal of Nutrition, how it does this is by increasing the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in your body. This “good” cholesterol is essential for your cardiovascular system to function properly.
Last but not least, purple rice is great for detoxifying your liver, and improving liver function. A study published in the Nutrition & Metabolism Journal showed that people who consumed purple rice on a regular basis were faced with a lower risk of developing liver disease. In addition to this, participants also saw an increase in their fatty acid metabolism, which helped their livers filter out toxins from their blood more efficiently.
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How do you incorporate purple rice in your diet?
You can use it as part of a stir-fry, or simply have it by itself, just like how you’d consume brown rice or white rice. Preparation-wise, use two cups of water for every cup of rice. Do note that it typically takes longer to cook, because it’s less refined. If you’d like to speed up the cooking process, simple soak your rice an hour before you start cooking.
Apart from consuming rice as-is, there are also several rice products which come packed with tons of nutrients and vitamins. One such example is Amazonia’s Raw Purple Rice Protein with Vanilla and Acai; this protein powder is made with sustainably farmed rice which is rich in amino acids, anthocyanins, and plant-based digestive enzymes.
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Amazonia’s Raw Purple Rice Protein with Vanilla and Acai is highly versatile - you can use it to whip up a protein shake, or simply add a tablespoon into your morning smoothie or juice. If you’re looking for a way to get a more nutritious, well-rounded diet, this is your answer!
(Credits)
What are the other health benefits of purple rice?
A study in the International Immunopharmacology Journal shows that this contains a number of compounds which help to reduce inflammatory responses in our bodies. This helps to protect us from bacterial, viral infections, and diseases associated with chronic inflammation (one example being dermatitis).
In addition to this, purple rice also helps to lower blood pressure, prevent hardening of the arteries, and reduce the likelihood of potential heart failure. According to research published in The Journal of Nutrition, how it does this is by increasing the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in your body. This “good” cholesterol is essential for your cardiovascular system to function properly.
Last but not least, purple rice is great for detoxifying your liver, and improving liver function. A study published in the Nutrition & Metabolism Journal showed that people who consumed purple rice on a regular basis were faced with a lower risk of developing liver disease. In addition to this, participants also saw an increase in their fatty acid metabolism, which helped their livers filter out toxins from their blood more efficiently.
(Credits)
How do you incorporate purple rice in your diet?
You can use it as part of a stir-fry, or simply have it by itself, just like how you’d consume brown rice or white rice. Preparation-wise, use two cups of water for every cup of rice. Do note that it typically takes longer to cook, because it’s less refined. If you’d like to speed up the cooking process, simple soak your rice an hour before you start cooking.
Apart from consuming rice as-is, there are also several rice products which come packed with tons of nutrients and vitamins. One such example is Amazonia’s Raw Purple Rice Protein with Vanilla and Acai; this protein powder is made with sustainably farmed rice which is rich in amino acids, anthocyanins, and plant-based digestive enzymes.
(Credits)
Amazonia’s Raw Purple Rice Protein with Vanilla and Acai is highly versatile - you can use it to whip up a protein shake, or simply add a tablespoon into your morning smoothie or juice. If you’re looking for a way to get a more nutritious, well-rounded diet, this is your answer!
