Black Rice Bran Supplies the Most Antioxidants For Your Money

OK, I confess. I had never heard of black rice  until I read of a new study that shows black rice bran supplies the most anitoxidants for your money.  The money part kept me reading.

Zhimin Xu, co-author of the study said, “Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar and more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants”

Antioxidants are linked to decreased risk of heart disease and cancer. They also aid in memory improvement and other health benefits.

The authors of the study found that black rice bran could be used to improve health benefits of breakfast cereals, cakes, cookies and other foods. It may even be used in beverages. Interestingly, it may also be used as food coloring because the pigments in black rice bran extracts range from pink to black.  Perhaps no more artificial coloring in the future!

Also noted Xu, that although brown rice is the most common rice variety produced worldwide, the study results suggest that black rice bran may be healthier than brown rice bran in terms of antioxidants.

“If berries are used to boost health, why not black rice and black rice bran?” asked Xu, associate professor at the food science department at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. “Black rice bran would be a unique and economical material to increase consumption of health-promoting antioxidants.”

Apparently black rice has an even nuttier taste than brown rice. I switched from white rice to brown rice when I realized it was healthier. It did take a bit to get use to the different texture of the brown rice.

Now that I know black rice bran supplies the most antioxidants for your money, I’ll be switching to black rice and I’m sure I’ll learn to love it!