Extraordinary Benefits of Black Rice.

Extraordinary Benefits of Black Rice.

Black rice types and characteristics.

Black rice has a myriad of health benefits. Historically, this rice was considered the food of kings. In China, it was once called forbidden rice because, during that period, only the royal family could consume it.

In general, there are three types of rice, namely white rice (Oryza sativa), red rice (Oryza glaberrima) and black rice (Oryza sativa L. indica). Of the three types, white rice is the most consumed and followed by red rice.

In Indonesia, people are more familiar with black sticky rice than black rice. Although the color is equally black, black rice is different from black glutinous rice. Similarly, the nutritional content is also different.

The characteristics and texture of black rice are more similar to ordinary white rice compared to sticky rice.

In terms of taste, black rice is not as "fluffier" as white rice.

Cooking black rice will take more water and a longer time. Once cooked, black rice has a strong aroma that can arouse your appetite.

The benefits of black rice.

From several studies that are scattered on the internet, black rice is heralded as medicine for all health problems. However, is that true? Let us see it.

Remember that black rice is a type of food, not medicine, although it can also function as remedies in certain circumstances. Just like food in general, it acts more as a prevention rather than curing a disease.

Here are the main benefits of consuming black rice:

Prevent cancer.
Black rice is useful to prevent cancer because it has high anthocyanin content. Based on a lot of research, anthocyanin is a potent antioxidant. As is widely known, antioxidants play an active role in preventing cancer.

Prevent diabetes. 

Black rice has the lowest calorific value compared to other types of rice, which is around 362 kcal per 100 grams. The calorie content is closely related to the glycemic index. A glycemic index is a number that shows how much a portion of food can increase blood sugar levels after consumption. The higher the glycemic index, the higher chance the food will trigger an increase in blood sugar. Therefore black rice is considered a healthier option and is recommended for people with diabetes.

Prevent heart disease. 

Black rice has a high fiber content. We can felt this from its taste that is slightly dry, not as fluffier as white rice. Any food that has high fiber content will undoubtedly play an active role in maintaining your heart health.

Prevent Anemia. 

Black rice has a high iron content reaching 15.52 ppm. Iron is an essential element in the formation of blood (hemoglobin). Therefore, foods that are rich in iron are highly recommended for people with anemia.

Anti-aging. 

Anti-aging property is still related to the antioxidant content that plays a role in repairing body cells that are damaged. If the body's cells repair themselves quickly, a person will look fitter and younger.

Types and characteristics of black rice.

The types of black rice in Indonesia come from diverse strains. Most farmers get it from generation to generation. Some purified it from black rice strains in the market.

Some of the black rice strains available on the market include Cempo Ireng (Kulon Progo, Sleman), Melik (Merbabu Mountain Slope, Central Java), Cibeusi (Subang), and Toraja (Sulawesi).

Black rice generally has the following physical characteristics:

Black rice grains.  The black color is genetically regulated by the color of the aleuron and starch composition in the endosperm. Aleuron and endosperm produce anthocyanins, which cause a purple tint. Because of the high levels of anthocyanin, the color purple becomes black. Anthocyanin is an antioxidant that is needed as an anti-cancer.

Brown grain color. Even though the color of the rice is black, the rice grain is still brown, like ordinary rice. Only during the filling stage of a rice grain, the color will turn black; however, it will turn back to brown when its ripen. Black rice is different from black sticky rice, which has a black colored rice grain.

Black rice needs a longer period for harvesting. 

In general, the challenge in cultivating black rice is that it takes 200 days until harvest time. However, several varieties can be harvested in less than four months. Unfortunately, the seeds are still limited and are not necessarily stable.

High plant posture.

The local black rice can reach 2 meters. However, some crosses breeding now have shorter plants, just like ordinary white rice. Higher plants have a higher possibility of falling during strong winds, rain, or storm.

Black rice plant breeding.

Based on the research of Biogen Center since 2003, there are new black rice varieties developed by crossing Silugonggo varieties with red rice. These crosses produce rice in only 90-100 days with a plant height of 90-100 cm.

Another attempt to breed black rice was recorded by the West Java Agriculture Office in 2009. They produce three variants of rice that are commonly grown by farmers in Cibeusi and Ciater Villages, Subang Regency. The variant has a bright yellow, dull, and black grains. This rice from Subang is known as Cibeusi. Cibeusi rice has an early maturity of up to 200 days with a productivity of more than 5 tons per hectare.

How to Cook Black Rice at Home Video: