Why Many Households Are Now Interested In Brown Rice

By Kolawole Morolake Oluwatamilore

Truly, do you know why many households are now interested in brown rice? Why has it become a necessary topic in Nigeria as it has been in other parts of the world?

These questions have become important on account of some factors: in the fact of the realty of our economic conditions as a nation, and the wisdom on households to guard against ill-health partly by eating right.

Eating right, implies not only consuming food items with the right nutritional properties, but spending on food only within affordable economic considerations.

In Nigeria for example, the recent federal government policy of removing subsidy on petroleum products has led to a skyrocketing rise in prices.  Well, with a liter of fuel selling at N500 on the average, other commodities and services have taken their pricing cue off the price range of fuel, leaving Nigerians on the edge. Daily survival has become even more challenging.

Average households cannot think of setting any money aside for health care provision, but explore opportunities and options available in our naturally endowed environments.  The wisdom of eating right has become a prime consideration, especially when it is realised that some of our food varieties, consumed in the right proportions and timings, can actually help keep sicknesses at bay.

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How do all these concern brown rice? How do they respond to the issue of why many households are now interested in brown rice

By way of background, brown rice is one of the varieties of rice, produced by removing only the outermost layer of the rice grain, known as the hull.

Brown rice

This leaves the bran layer and germ intact. This process preserves the nutrients that are found in these layers, making brown rice a nutritious alternative to white rice.

The researchers have discovered that the ester compound cycloartenyl ferulate is the primary contributor to the health benefits of brown rice.

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’It is said that in Asia which is proficient in the production of rice, that the fame of brown rice particularly is on the ascendency. The reason for this, is what has been established as its health benefits. After all, is it not wisdom to spend on a staple that also gives additional value of supplying medical tonics so to say?

In a situation where obesity is an increasing lifestyle concern, it has been established that regular consumption of brown rice helps in weight reduction, cholesterol control, and inflammation reduction.

Even in weight maintenance, brown rice is considered a rescue. How is this so? Brown rice contains antioxidant properties with ability to neutralise reactive oxygen species and protect against cellular damage.

Such antioxidants therefore help in promoting healthy living. They can also guard against oxidative stress.

There is also reference to Professor Yoshimasa Nakamura from the Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University citing researchers from Japan that have identified cycloartenyl ferulate (CAF) as the main “cytoprotective” or cell-protecting compound in brown rice.

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This CAF is described as a unique compound of a hybrid structure, and which has fat lowering potentials. . The study was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

WebMD Editorial Contributors, in their well-researched article on Brown rice submitted amongst others that it has a low glycemic index (GI), meaning it doesn’t cause the blood sugar to spike after one had consumed brown rice.

They add: “Studies show that by eating three servings per day of whole grains like brown rice, you can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 32%.

White rice, on the other hand, can increase your risk of diabetes. Another study found that people who eat a lot of white rice are about 17% more likely to develop diabetes than folks who eat less. Scientists estimate that by replacing about 50 grams per day of white rice with brown rice, a person can reduce their diabetes risk by 16%.”

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In terms of its advantages on weight gain, they said: “Adding brown rice as a dietary staple may help people who are overweight to shed more pounds and reduce their body mass index, a common marker of healthy or unhealthy weight.

“Brown rice also contains more dietary fiber than white rice. Higher-fiber foods cause you to feel fuller longer while taking in fewer calories. If you replace white rice with brown rice, you will be able to eat less without feeling hungry”.

Nutritional properties of brown rice: Nutrients per Serving

One half-cup serving of long-grain brown rice contains:

Calories: 108

Protein: 3 grams

Fat: 1 gram

Carbohydrates: 22 grams

Fiber: 2 grams

Sugar: 0 grams

To be concluded

Dear Reader:

Did you find value in the above writeup – “Why Many Households Are Now Interested In Brown Rice”? Would you want to read the concluding part, which talks about how brown rice could be cultivated and best way to prepare it to maximize the benefits in Nigeria? Let us know via the response box below. Thank you for your time.