Introduction
Wild rice is a native American crop grows mainly in the Northern part of the midwest region of USA. Scientifically known as Zizania aquatica as Native Americans grow this crop in wild lakes and rivers. The US food and drug administration recognize Wild rice as whole food as it is rich in minerals, vitamins, proteins, dietary fiber, starch and antioxidants (1). Some of the wild rice benefits are low in cholesterol, gluten-free, healthy heart prevents obesity and liver lipotoxicity.
Wild rice benefits
1. Lowers cholesterol
Studies done on animal model evaluates the protective potentials of wild rice against obesity and lipotoxicity induced by a high-fat/cholesterol diet in rats (2). Therefore having wild rice in our day to day diet helps in reducing the body weight and also lowers the cholesterol level of the body.
2. Controls blood sugar
Wild rice helps in controlling the blood sugar level thus keeps a check to diabetes. Chinese medicine system also uses wild rice to treat diabetes (3). Wild rice is food with lower glycemic index therefore considered in controlling the blood sugar level.
3. Rich in Vitamin E
Wild rice is rich in vitamin E that is tocopherol and tocotrienol collectively known as tocols. Vitamin E is rich in antioxidant and reduces inflammation. The tocopherol content of wild rice is higher than the rice bran oil.
4. Gamma Oryzanol
Wild rice is also rich in gamma oryzanol, the amount of gamma oryzanol is higher than that of rice bran oil. Gamma oryzanol is important for the body because of its antioxidant property combined with cholesterol-lowering effect. Therefore wild rice is good for the heart and prevents heart-related problems.
5. Rich in minerals and amino acids
Wild rice is a good source of amino acids like glutamic acid, arginine, aspartic and alanine. Amino acids are essential for our body as they are the main ingredient of protein and thus acts as a building block.
Along with amino acids, wild rice is also fortified with minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium these minerals are required to live a healthy life (5).
6. Gluten-free
Wild rice is also gluten free (4) therefore good for people having gluten intolerance or gluten-related disorders.
IN SHORT
- Wild rice are helps in keeping heart, liver healthy because of its low cholesterol.
- Helps in losing weight
- Good for gluten intolerance persons
- Have low glycemic index therefore controls diabetes.