‘Forbidden’ black rice more nutritious than superfoods
By IANSFriday, August 27, 2010
LONDON - A spoonful of black rice has greater nutritive value than blueberries and blackberries, touted as superfoods.
It is occasionally known as the “Forbidden Rice” because Chinese nobles forbade common people from eating it.
Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries. It also contains less sugar and more fibre and Vitamin E antioxidants, said Zhimin Xu at the Louisiana State University, reports the Telegraph.
“If berries are used to boost health, why not black rice and black rice bran?
“Especially, black rice bran would be a unique and economical material to increase
consumption of health promoting antioxidants,” Xu said.
Xu presented her findings at the American Chemical Society conference in Boston.
Like fruits, black rice is rich in anthocyanin antioxidants, substances that show promise for fighting heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.
Food manufacturers could potentially use black rice bran or the bran extracts to boost the health value of breakfast cereals, beverages, cakes, cookies and other foods.
