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Is this rice more powerful than blueberries?
By Christine O'Brien on 09/19/2010
We've gotten used to looking to berries for the most powerful antioxidant punch.
And if you're like me, you don't mind that at all -- after all, there aren't many desserts better than a bowl full of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. Just writing that makes me wish I had some now.
Variety is always good, though, and scientists have found another food that could have even higher levels of free-radical fighting anthocyanin -- and it's cheaper. So...relief for the wallet without sacrificing your health...sounds pretty great to me!
The miracle food is black rice, which in addition to its high level of antioxidants contains less sugar and more fiber and vitamin E than blueberries.
The results of a recent study of black rice were presented late last month at an American Chemical Society meeting.
Known as "Forbidden Rice" because its consumption was strictly limited to nobles in ancient China, black rice is commonly used decoratively in sushi and noodles.
Scientists are recommending that black rice bran be used as an additive in breakfast cereals and cookies, but why go the processed-food route when you can go for the whole food?
I searched a couple of my favorite recipe sites and found entries for everything from side dishes to black rice pudding. If you feel like keeping it simple, black rice can be cooked just like white and brown rice. Enjoy!
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Christine O'Brien writes the e-letter Health eTips for Dr. Wright's Nutrition and Healing.
You can sign up for the free eTips at www.wrightnewsletter.com.
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Comments
Anonymous
WHERE DO U FIND BLACK RICE?
grandma.greenmeans@gmail.com
Anonymous
I, also, would like to know where to find black rice. I know there is a wild rice which is black, but it is also rather expensive.
daryl
I'm pretty sure Whole Foods ha it.
Mr. Sirajul Islam
Is this variety is a kin next to 'red yeast rice?'
BobRichardson
Yes, where can you purchase this black rice.
How does it compare to brown rice??
Anonymous
If you do a search on-line you can find several mail order sources to purchase black rice. I definitely might try some!
One thing I noticed nutrition-wise, while the black rice does have significantly less sugar than blueberries, it has about 45% more net carbs (which are converted to sugar once consumed).
Jeff
Black Rice can be purchased thru Amazon.com
at a very reasonable price-Enjoy
Anna
I have used 'Black Glutinous Rice' which I bought from an Asian grocery store after watching a cooking programme on Asian desserts. It's quite filling as it's denser - so you don't need to eat as much and you can have it the normal way you cook white rice, however you need to cook it longer. Soaking it beforehand helps too!
vikingstork
Anonymous
it's true that starches convert to sugar, but not to fructose, which is also found unhealthy, as it digests in the liver like alcohol. Of course there are protests from radical vegans and retro-foodists, who claim since it's in fruit it just has to be good. Problem is, when a little bit is good, more isn't necessarily better. And these days the over-cultivated fruits pack orders-of-magnitude more fructose than they did naturally (originally). So the black rice is upt to be pretty OK.
Lubomir
Black rice us available in Chinese supermarkets.
It is prepared differently then white rice.
You soak it in watter over nigh, then steam it for an hour or so.
This is it.
You can use it with any meta & vegetables hot or cold as abase d say for seafood salads.
Dewey
Most Asian SuperMarkets Carry it... Try it with Sprouted Peanuts and honey... with a touch of Cinnamon...
Mercedes Lackey
It's easily available online. We love it! We use an electronic rice steamer which makes perfect rice every time; it's great topped with shredded chicken and a little black bean or eel sauce, or with steamed veggies.
Just do a google shopping search on "black rice."
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