Rice bran is a nutrient-packed, healthy breakfast option that can make a big difference in your diet. It is a by-product of milling and polishing rice grains that is packed full of essential vitamins and minerals. Rice bran is often overlooked as a breakfast item, but it can help to reduce cholesterol, promote heart health, and more. In this blog post, we’ll go over what rice bran is, the health benefits of eating rice bran, and how to prepare it.
What is Rice Bran?
Rice bran is a by-product of milling and polishing rice grains. The husk of the rice grain is removed, leaving the bran intact. This layer of the grain is filled with nutrients that can provide numerous health benefits. It is high in fiber and contains essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin B1, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous as well as essential fatty acids. Because of its nutrient-dense makeup, rice bran can be beneficial for those seeking to improve their overall health and wellness.
Health Benefits of Eating Rice Bran
Eating rice bran can have many health benefits due to its nutrient-rich make up. It is high in fiber and has a low glycemic index, which makes it a great breakfast option for those looking to maintain or lose weight. The fiber content of rice bran helps to keep you feeling full for longer and can reduce the risk of developing heart disease. The presence of antioxidants in rice bran also helps to reduce inflammation and free radical damage, helping to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Rice bran also contains several minerals and vitamins, including Vitamin B1, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous, which can help to strengthen bones, teeth and hair. The fatty acids found in rice bran can lower bad LDL cholesterol and raise good HDL cholesterol, promoting heart health. Additionally, regular consumption of rice bran can help to reduce blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
How to Prepare Rice Bran
There are a few different ways to enjoy a bowl of rice bran in the morning. It is most commonly cooked in water like other grains, such as oats and quinoa. This can be done on the stovetop or in the microwave. To enhance its flavor, you can add spices and herbs, such as cinnamon, ginger, or turmeric. You can also add fruits and nuts for added texture and sweetness.
Rice bran can also be enjoyed raw. This way it retains its full nutrient profile, so it makes for an exceptionally nutritious breakfast. To do this, mix one cup of rice bran with two to three cups of your favorite milk. You can also blend it into smoothies or blend it with fruits and vegetables to make healthful snacks or desserts.
Conclusion
Rice bran is an amazing breakfast option that offers numerous health benefits. It is a by-product of milling and polishing rice that is packed full of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Eating rice bran can help to reduce cholesterol, lower blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and promote heart health. It can be cooked in water like other grains or enjoyed raw with milk or in smoothies and snacks. Adding spices, herbs, fruits and nuts can help to create a complete and delicious breakfast.
The Journey of a Rice Bran From Field to Plate
A grain of rice is more than just a staple food. It is the nexus of an entire agricultural and industrial process that takes it from field to farmer to processor and finally to the hungry consumer. The humble grain of rice goes through a long path before it reaches one’s dinner plate, with numerous stops to be turned into a nutritious and delicious meal.
Rice bran, or the outer layer of the hull which includes parts of the embryo and aleurone layers, is a nutritious and functional part of the rice that commonly gets discarded or used as animal feed during the milling process. Rice bran is not just nutrition, but also flavour and texture that can add variety to your plate. In this article, we will explore the journey of a rice bran from field to plate, highlighting its nutritional and functional properties along the way.
Rice Cultivation
Rice is one of the oldest, most widely consumed grains in the world. It is one of the most significant components of Asian diets, supplying more than a quarter of the total caloric intake in many countries. Rice is also a staple crop globally, accounting for approximately 20 percent of the world’s total calorie intake.
Rice is usually cultivated through two methods: irrigated wetland agriculture and rainfed upland agriculture. The former involves growing rice in flooded paddies, while the latter typically uses much less water and is largely confined to the mountainous regions of many Asian countries.
Whether irrigated or rainfed, rice is sown as seeds in a nursery or directly into the field. Fields are irrigated and kept moist throughout the vegetative growth stage. Weeds are typically controlled with herbicides or weeds are pulled by hand. Chemical inputs like fertilizers are often used to increase yields and reduce pest pressure.
Rice plants require pollination for successful germination, which is usually done by insects. The flowering plants produce small, green seeds that turn yellow once they are fully developed. Finally, the seeds are harvested by cutting the plants at the base and collecting the grains from the stalks. The grains are then collected, dried and stored for further processing.
Milling and Processing
Once the grains are harvested, they are transported to a milling facility to remove the hulls. The main aim of milling is to reduce the volume of the grains and to improve the nutritional profile.
Milling starts with a process called “dehulling”, where the outer hull or bran is removed from the grain. This can either be done manually or with a machine. Different types of milling machines have different levels of efficiency, with some removing as much as 95 percent of the hull. Rice bran is removed as a by-product of the milling process.
After the hull is removed, the grains are polished using friction to eventually produce the distinctive “white” grain that most people are familiar with. The final step involves sorting and grading the grains based on their size, color, uniformity, and other characteristics.
Nutritional Benefits of Rice Bran
Rice bran is an important source of nutrition. While rice is relatively low in protein compared to other grains, its bran is exceptionally high in protein, minerals and vitamins like iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and Trace Elements.
In addition to these nutrients, rice bran also contains beneficial fatty acids, such as omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for a healthy heart and good mental health. Rice bran also contains dietary fibre, which helps regulate the body’s digestion and absorption of nutrient.
Functional Benefits
Rice bran is becoming increasingly popular in functional foods. Due to its functional properties, rice bran can improve the texture and flavour of food. In addition to its unique nutritional and functional qualities, it is also widely used as an ingredient to replace or supplement traditional oils and fats.
Research has also shown that rice bran can improve the texture of food and add a pleasant nutty flavour to it. Additionally, rice bran can improve the shelf-life of food and act as a stabiliser and emulsifier to help keep food fresher for longer.
From Field to Plate
Rice bran is a highly versatile ingredient that has great potential to improve the nutritional and functional qualities of food. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the nutritional value of this overlooked grain and its potential to add variety to dishes.
From field to dinner plate, the journey of a single grain of rice is long and complex. But it doesn’t necessarily end there. By reaping the nutritional, functional and flavourful benefits of the humble rice bran, we can add variety, nutrition and flavour to our diets and diverse dishes around the world.
Vitamin E | 0.00492 grams | |
Vitamin K | 0.0019 mg | |
Vitamin B1 | 0.00275 grams | |
Vitamin B2 | 0.28 mg | |
Vitamin B3 | 0.034 grams | |
Vitamin B4 | 0.0322 grams | |
Vitamin B5 | 0.00739 grams | |
Vitamin B6 | 0.00407 grams | |
Vitamin B9 | 0.063 mg |
Calcium | 0.057 grams |
Daily Value 1.3 g
|
Iron | 0.01854 grams |
Daily Value 0.018 g
|
Magnesium | 0.781 grams |
Daily Value 0.4 g
|
Phosphorus | 1.677 grams |
Daily Value 1.25 g
|
Potassium | 1.485 grams |
Daily Value 4.7 g
|
Sodium | 0.005 grams |
Daily Value 2.3 g
|
Zinc | 0.00604 grams |
Daily Value 0.011 g
|
Copper | 0.73 mg |
Daily Value 0.9 mg
|
Manganese | 0.01421 grams |
Daily Value 0.0023 g
|
Selenium | 0.0156 mg |
Daily Value 0.055 mg
|
Tryptophan | 0.108 grams | |
Threonine | 0.555 grams | |
Isoleucine | 0.568 grams | |
Leucine | 1.022 grams | |
Lysine | 0.65 grams | |
Methionine | 0.306 grams | |
Cystine | 0.317 grams | |
Phenylalanine | 0.635 grams | |
Tyrosine | 0.411 grams | |
Valine | 0.881 grams | |
Arginine | 1.058 grams | |
Histidine | 0.355 grams | |
Alanine | 0.97 grams | |
Aspartic Acid | 1.308 grams | |
Glutamic Acid | 1.854 grams | |
Glycine | 0.875 grams | |
Proline | 0.668 grams | |
Serine | 0.662 grams |
Glucose | 0.2 grams |
|
Fructose | 0.2 grams |
|
Sucrose | 0.5 grams |
|
Total Sugars | 0.9 grams |
per 100g
|
Lauric acid (12:0) | 0.02 grams |
|
Myristic acid (14:0) | 0.08 grams |
|
Palmitic acid (16:0) | 3.56 grams |
|
Stearic acid (18:0) | 0.37 grams |
|
Total Saturated fatty acids: | 4.03 g | |
Oleic acid (18:1) | 7.48 grams |
|
Palmitoleic acid (16:1) | 0.08 grams |
|
Total Monounsaturated fatty acids: | 7.56 g | |
Linolenic acid (18:3) | 0.32 grams |
|
Linoleic acid (18:2) | 7.14 grams |
|
Total Polyunsaturated fatty acids: | 7.46 g |