Black rice is considered a delicacy: in ancient China, only members of the ruling family could afford it. Current people were prohibited from eating it and avoiding the prohibition was punished with death.
Black rice is appreciated not only for its nutritional value (it contains double protein as conventional rice), but also for its medicinal properties.
What is black rice?
Black rice has little to do with authentic rice. Its grains are the fruit of Citzania Aquatica, an annual cereal, white rice relative. The high cost of black rice is not only due to its flavor, but also to the difficulty of processing, harvesting and cultivating the product.
It can only be harvested manually: one person inclines the plant on the boat with a special device, while another hits the spike so that the grains begin to fall. In an hour no more than 10 kilos can be harvested.
Chemical composition and product calories
A single ration of the product ready for consumption contains 160 kilocalories. Black rice contains large amounts of iron, copper, proteins and bioflavonoids.
It is important to note that black rice contains several times more antioxidants than conventional rice, so it delays the aging process and helps prevent cancer. It is also rich in dietary fiber, which facilitates digestion and balances intestinal microflora.
Whole grains have a high protein content. For this reason, it can be an alternative to mea t-based diets for those who are vegetarians.
Black rice properties
Black rice is a valuable food product that not only has a pleasant and refined taste, but also healing properties.
Curative benefits and properties
The product brings great benefits to the body:
- It helps to get rid of excess weight by normalizing metabolism;
- It helps recover from physical stress and serious medical interventions;
- Normalizes the gastrointestinal tract;
- Prevents anemia, diabetes and cancer.
Help recover after a disease or childbirth
Women who have just given birth are recommended to eat black rice to recover quickly. This is due to its high iron and bioflavonoid content. It is also indicated during breastfeeding: it increases the production of breast milk and makes it more nutritious. Before adding black rice to the diet, a doctor should be consulted: black rice intake by the mother can cause allergies in the child.
It is also indicated for people who have suffered surgical intervention or serious illness. It is demonstrated that regular black consumption shortens the rehabilitation period and helps return to normal life in a short time.
It also protects the heart and blood vessels.
Black rice eliminates the “bad” cholesterol of the organism, reducing the probability that atherosclerotic plaques will form. As a result, it helps prevent dangerous conditions such as cerebral spills and myocardial infarctions. It helps maintain blood cholesterol levels at optimal levels thanks to the high bioflavonoid content of black rice.
Eliminates the harmful substances of the organism.
Regular black rice consumption can eliminate harmful substances from the organism and improve liver function. It should be consumed after poisoning or prolonged treatment with antibiotics.
Improves gastrointestinal function
Black rice has a high fiber content, which helps absorb toxins and eliminate them from the body, improves digestion and eliminates constipation and flatulence.
Black rice also helps lose weight due to its high fiber content. Fiber creates a feeling of lasting satiety and reduces appetite, so the desire to chop frequently disappears.
Prevents the development of diabetes
Carbohydrates take a long time to become energy, which reduces the risk of diabetes. Black rice slows sugar absorption, which prevents the increase in blood glucose levels. It also normalizes the function of the pancreas.
It does not contain gluten.
Black rice is indicated for people who follow a glute n-free diet. Gluten can cause swelling, diarrhea, low performance and weakening of the immune system.
Protect the liver
If you include black rice in your diet, you can significantly improve your liver’s health. It has been experimentally demonstrated that its regular consumption reduces cholesterol levels and normalizes the lipid profile. Black rice prevents fatty liver and improves its detoxification functions.
Contains antioxidants.
Black rice coating contains large amounts of antioxidants that slow down the aging process and prevents the degeneration of tissues in malignant tumors.
Damages and contraindications
Black rice has the following contraindications
- Individual intolerance to product proteins;
- Eating too much black rice can cause constipation;
- In case of liver failure and type 1 diabetes, consult your doctor before consuming the product.
How to choose a good rice?
The cost of black rice is quite high, so it is necessary to choose it with care and attention. First, it is important to study the quality of the container and the information that appears in it. The harvest date must coincide with that of the region in which the product was cultivated: this information can be found on the Internet. The bag must be transparent to be able to appreciate the color of the grains and verify that the product is free of impurities.
Good quality black rice has bright bright brown grains uniform. The bottom of the bag must be free of small particles and waste.
Special characteristics of black rice
The black rice pigment can stain the white dishes. Therefore, it must be cooked in kitchen utensils coated with Teflon.
The cooking time depends on the region in which it is grown. Asian rice grains only need half an hour cooking, while American black rice needs at least an hour.
In kitchen: kitchen recipes
Black rice is an almost universal food. It can be used as garrison, salad dressing and even stuffed with cakes. People on diet should eat it 2-3 times per week. It can also be mixed with normal rice to save money and turn it into a healthier garnish.
You can prepare a delicious dietary seafood salad with wild rice. You will need 100 grams of boiled rice. The rice is covered with mussels, prawns and squid, slightly fried in olive oil. Vegetables can be used to complete the taste of the salad: arugula and coriander are ideal. Once ready, the salad can sprinkle with a little lemon juice.
American black rice, which has a sweet and nut taste, is also ideal for desserts, such as roasted apple dessert.
- 100 grams of rice;
- 3 or 4 large apples;
- half a cup of peeled nuts;
- Canela and Curry to taste.
The rice is boiled until half cooked. It moves until a paste is obtained and mixed with the nuts. Spices are added to the mixture. The center of the apples is removed and the filling is put in place.
The stuffed apples are cooked in the oven at 120 degrees until they are tender. The finished dish can be sprayed with maple or honey syrup.
As a nutritional dietary dish, you can prepare an original coconut milk garnish. To do this, you will need
- 100 grams of rice;
- 200 ml of water;
- 50 ml of coconut milk;
- A teaspoon of sesame seeds.
The rice is boiled until tender and then the coconut milk is added. The dish is sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Remember that coconut milk is very caloric: 100 ml contain 152 kilocalories. Therefore, people who follow a strict diet should use 20-30 ml of coconut milk instead of 50 ml to give the dish a pleasant taste.
In popular medicine
In popular medicine, black rice is used boiled or as a bran.
Boiled rice should be consumed daily to prevent atherosclerosis, strengthen blood vessels and reduce blood pressure. It is recommended to consume it during seasonal epidemics to strengthen the immune system.
To clean the intestines, it is recommended to elaborate bran to lose weight from black rice: the benefits of the bran are huge, but only cause damage if consumed in excess. The bran helps to clean the intestines and accelerate metabolism. The bran is very easy to prepare: it is enough to grind the grains in a blender or kitchen robot. The resulting dust is added in small quantities to other dishes, such as minced meat, garrisons or stuffed with cakes. The bran does not affect the taste of the finished dish, making it healthier and nutritious.
In cosmetology
Due to its properties, black rice has found a wide application in cosmetology.
Black rice masks
With the grains you can make a mask that cleans the pores and improves the complexion. The rice is crushed in a blender. The dust is soaked in hot water for 5-6 hours (2 parts of water by one of grains). The ready mask is applied to the face for 15 minutes. After that, slightly massage the skin and thoroughly wash the mask with warm water.
Booty rice mask will help deal with small wrinkles. The boiled rice is crushed in a blender. Vitamins A and E are added to the mask in the form of oily solution. Vitamins can be acquired in pharmacies: they are sold in the form of capsules, are drilled with a needle and squeezed the content. The mask is applied to the clean face for 15 minutes.
Black rice for hair beauty
Black rice helps improve hair status and accelerate its growth. To prepare a capillary remedy, you will need
- 20 grams of grains;
- 5 ml of yellow barbecue oil;
- 20 grams of liquid honey.
Pour warm water over the grains for 2-3 hours. Then you have to crush them together with the other ingredients of the mask. The mixture is applied to the scalp. For the mask to work better, you can wear a shower cap and heat your hair with a hot dryer jet. You must keep the mask for 30-40 minutes.
Special storage
It is recommended to save black rice in a wel l-closed container, far from products with strong odors and spices. This is because grains can absorb strange odors and change their taste qualities. Save the container with the grains in the refrigerator. Rice should not be exposed to direct sunlight: ultraviolet light destroys the bioflavonoids of the grain peel.
It is advisable to consume it before the expiration date.
Black rice, whose benefits and damages are described in the article, is one of the healthiest cereals. It has a pleasant nut flavor, it is an excellent complement to any dish and its regular consumption helps to avoid many dangerous diseases. Try this unique product to be sure of its unique properties!
