Jasmine rice is an aromatic and long–grain rice. It is flavored for its unique taste and texture. Jasmine rice is native to Thailand. It is a popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine. It can be spotted in dishes ranging from curries to stir-fries. It is very versatile and it is easy to prepare. Jasmine rice nutrition brings a lot of nutrients to the table, including iron, selenium, folate, and manganese.
Also, whole grain varieties may be associated with even more benefits, including protection against chronic disease, decreased oxidative stress, and improved heart health. The jasmine rice is a bit shorter and thicker than other types of rice, such as basmati, and it has a clingy texture which makes it well–suited for eating with chopsticks. Also, it has a unique signature scent, which is due to the plant’s natural production of aromatic compounds like 2 – acetyl – 1 – pyrroline.
Also, this compound is found in other foods, such as basmati rice and white bread. It is said that it has a scent similar to hot buttered popcorn. You should enjoy jasmine rice in moderation as a part of a balanced diet because it is relatively high in calories and carbs. Also, jasmine rice tends to absorb more arsenic than other foods, so it may be a concern if rice is a regular part of your meal plan.
Here are some health benefits of jasmine rice:
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Promotes healthy pregnancy:
Jasmine rice is rich in folate. It has nearly a quarter of the recommended daily value in a single cup. Folate is very important during pregnancy because it plays an important role in fetal growth and development. In the past decades, manufacturers have been adding folate to enriched foods, such as bread, rice, pasta, and other grains. This can help you to stay protected against neural tube defects in infants and this is a type of birth defect which affects the spinal cord, spine, or brain.
Could help combat cancer:
There are some promising studies in which is said that whole grains like jasmine rice and brown rice can help to reduce the risk of cancer. One study which was involving 20 studies was found that six studies in which people were taking whole grain have reduced the risk of developing cancer over time. Jasmine rice has high amounts of fiber, which can be beneficial against some types of cancer. In some studies are shown that increasing your intake of fiber is linked to reduced risk of breast, head, neck, ovarian and colorectal cancers.
May promote heart health:
The brown jasmine rice is considered to be a whole grain. This means that it has all three parts of the rice kernel. In some studies are shown that including a few servings of whole grains in your diet can help to enhance overall heart health. One large review of 45 studies was shown that eating at least three servings of whole grains per day was linked to a lower risk of heart disease.
Also, these studies are shown that the consumption of jasmine rice can lower the risk of stroke as well. There is one significant difference between the brown jasmine rice with white rea and that is the fiber content. Jasmine rice has more fiber, which could potentially help to decrease the levels of cholesterol and blood pressure, which are two main risk factors for heart disease.
High in antioxidants:
Jasmine rice is rich in antioxidants, which can help in the fight against free radicals and can help to protect against oxidative stress and cell damage. It has been shown that each serving of jasmine rice is high in manganese, which is an essential mineral that is acting as an antioxidant and it plays a role in health and disease. One study done in 2014 was shown that in Thailand, people who consumed red jasmine rice have decreased their cancer cell growth, due to its content of beneficial compounds, such as tocopherol, tocotrienol, oryzanol, and phenolics.
Good source of iron:
Jasmine rice is rich in iron, which is involved in many metabolic processes in the body, including red blood cell production, oxygen transport, and DNA synthesis.