Rice is from the oryza sativa plant. It blends well with pretty much any dish be it gravy, curry, fried food or dried food and more. Vegetarians and others can mix rice in their diet unless they are allergic to rice. Rice is served in almost all parts of the world in restaurants and on domestic dining tables as a staple diet or a variant of wheat. Some are desserts like the ones added with milk, cream and vanilla extract. There are also dishes that are savory like the ones that are cooked with vegetables and spices. Being a staple diet its a renowned favorite food in various parts of the world especially in south and southeast asia and parts of Africa.
The benefits that can be obtained from partaking rice are various. Some of vitamins and minerals found in the list of rice nutrition facts are protein, niacin, sodium, dietary fiber, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, copper, vitamin B6, zinc, thiamin and more. The health benefits derived from these elements are rich. Rice is very high in protein and helps in the repair and growth of the muscles. It is beneficial for keeping the digestive system regulated. It helps in making the immune system strong. It can aid in the reducing of high blood pressure. Rice can also act as a diuretic.
Below is a chart for nutrition facts for three main rice variants.
|
Brown
|
White (Unenriched)
|
Parboiled (Unenriched)
|
||
| Nutrient |
Unit
|
¼ cup raw
(46.25 grams) |
¼ cup raw
(46.25 grams) |
¼ cup raw
(46.25 grams) |
| Proximates (Macronutrients) | ||||
| Calories |
kcal
|
171
|
169
|
172
|
| Protein |
g
|
3.64
|
3.30
|
3.14
|
| Total Fat |
g
|
1.35
|
0.31
|
0.26
|
| Carbohydrate |
g
|
35.72
|
36.98
|
37.80
|
| Fiber |
g
|
1.62
|
0.60
|
0.79
|
| Minerals | ||||
| Calcium, Ca |
mg
|
10.64
|
12.95
|
27.75
|
| Iron, Fe |
mg
|
0.68
|
0.37
|
0.69
|
| Magnesium, Mg |
mg
|
66.14
|
11.56
|
14.34
|
| Phosphorus, P |
mg
|
154.01
|
53.19
|
62.90
|
| Potassium, K |
mg
|
103.14
|
53.19
|
55.50
|
| Sodium, Na |
mg
|
3.24
|
2.31
|
2.31
|
| Zinc, Zn |
mg
|
0.93
|
0.50
|
0.44
|
| Copper, Cu |
mg
|
0.13
|
0.10
|
0.09
|
| Manganese, Mn |
mg
|
1.73
|
0.50
|
0.39
|
| Selenium, Se |
mg
|
10.82
|
6.98
|
10.64
|
| Vitamins | ||||
| Vitamin C |
mg
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
| Thiamin |
0.19
|
0.03
|
0.05
|
|
| Riboflavin |
0.04
|
0.02
|
0.03
|
|
| Niacin |
2.35
|
0.74
|
1.68
|
|
| Pantothenic Acid |
0.69
|
0.47
|
0.52
|
|
| Vitamin B-6 |
0.24
|
0.08
|
0.16
|
|
| Folate |
9.25
|
3.70
|
7.86
|
|
The information in this table was taken from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2002. USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 15 (August, 2002).
1. Rice Trivia
2. Rice helps feed two-thirds of the world’s population.
3. Rice has been feeding mankind for more than 5,000 years.
4. Rice is used in beer, dog food, baby food, breakfast cereals, snacks, frozen foods and sauces, and much more!
5. Rice can germinate and thrive in flooded fields.
6. Three of the world’s four most populous nations are rice-based societies—China, India, and Indonesia. Together, they have nearly 2.5 billion people.
7. In Japan, it is believed that soaking rice before cooking releases the life energy and gives the eater a more peaceful soul. To encourage Japanese children to eat all of their rice the grains are affectionately called little Buddhas.
8. The first documented account of rice was by a Chinese emperor about 2,800 BC.
9. In China a typical greeting, instead of “How are you?” is “Have you had your rice today?” A greeting to which one is expected always to reply, “Yes.”
10. Two Japanese car brands were named after rice: Toyota, meaning “Bountiful Rice Field,” and Honda, meaning “Main Rice Field.”
11. One seed of rice yields more than 3,000 grains.
It is the highest yielding cereal grain and can grow in many kinds of environments and soils, which is why it is grown on every continent except Antarctica.
1. Rice helps feed two-thirds of the world’s population.
2. Rice has been feeding mankind for more than 5,000 years.
3. Rice is used in beer, dog food, baby food, breakfast cereals, snacks, frozen foods and sauces, and much more!
4. Rice can germinate and thrive in flooded fields.
5. Three of the world’s four most populous nations are rice-based societies—China, India, and Indonesia. Together, they have nearly 2.5 billion people.
6. In Japan, it is believed that soaking rice before cooking releases the life energy and gives the eater a more peaceful soul. To encourage Japanese children to eat all of their rice the grains are affectionately called little Buddhas.
7. The first documented account of rice was by a Chinese emperor about 2,800 BC.
8. In China a typical greeting, instead of “How are you?” is “Have you had your rice today?” A greeting to which one is expected always to reply, “Yes.”
9. Two Japanese car brands were named after rice: Toyota, meaning “Bountiful Rice Field,” and Honda, meaning “Main Rice Field.”
10. One seed of rice yields more than 3,000 grains. It is the highest yielding cereal grain and can grow in many kinds of environments and soils, which is why it is grown on every continent except Antarctica.