Sunday 26 June 2011

Basmati Rice Nutrition

Rice is the staple food product in many parts of the world. In fact, rice provides more than one fifth of the total calories consumed by humans throughout the world. There are several varieties of rice, out of which a few are aromatic rice, known for their wonderful fragrance. Examples of aromatic rice includes, jasmine rice, basmati rice, wehani rice and taxmati rice. Out of these, basmati rice is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries. This long grain rice with its nut like flavor and aroma hails from the Himalayan foothills of India and Pakistan. The grains of this special rice are much longer, as compared to many other types of rice. When cooked, the grains of basmati rice are quite free flowing and not sticky unlike many other varieties of rice. As already mentioned, basmati rice comes in two varieties, white and brown basmati rice. Below here are some more information on basmati rice calories, as well as white and brown basmati rice nutrition facts.

Basmati Rice Nutrition Information

White, as well as brown basmati rice contain carbohydrates, proteins, a small amount of fats, fiber and a few vitamins and minerals. Basmati rice is a good source of energy, as 200g of cooked basmati rice can provide about 205 calories. The same quantity of rice contains about 44.5 g carbohydrates, 0.44 g of fats and 4.2 gm of proteins. In addition to these, 200 mg of basmati rice contains 1.9 mg of iron and is a good source of B vitamins like, thiamine and niacin.

As far as fiber content of basmati rice is concerned, the brown variety has more fiber than the white variety. 200 g white basmati rice contains less than 1 g fiber, while the brown variety contains more than 3 g. The brown basmati rice is often considered to be more nutritious than the white variety, due to the fact that it is minimally processed. The brown rice is the rice prepared by removing only the outer husk. Brown rice retains the bran layers that surround the kernel. On the other hand, white basmati rice is produced by removing the bran layers along with the outer husk. For this reason, the brown basmati rice retains more vitamin B than the white variety.

Basmati Rice Nutritional Benefits

Basmati rice like other types of rice is an excellent source of energy. It is high in carbohydrates and proteins, but contains very small amount of fats and no cholesterol. Moreover, it is gluten free, which makes it an ideal stable food product for those who cannot tolerate gluten. Gluten is a protein substance that can be found in cereals and grains like, wheat, barley, oats and rye. Some people cannot tolerate this protein and hence, cannot consume gluten containing foods.

Basmati rice contains some of the very important B vitamins like, thiamine and niacin. Thiamine takes parts in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. It helps to maintain a normal appetite and growth and is very important for the normal functioning of the heart, muscles and the nervous system. Deficiency of this vitamin can cause the disease, known as beriberi, along with causing loss appetite, muscle pain and tiredness or excessive fatigue. Niacin is another B vitamin that is required for the normal functioning of the nervous and the digestive system, as well as for maintaining growth and a healthy skin.

Basmati rice also contains considerable amount of iron. As has been mentioned already, 200 gm of basmati rice can provide about 1.9 mg of iron, which is approximately 11% of the daily recommended amount of iron. Iron is required for the formation of hemoglobin, and as a component of hemoglobin it transports oxygen in the blood to various parts of the body. Iron deficiency is one of the important causes of anemia. Apart from these, the brown basmati rice is a very good source of fiber, which is beneficial for digestive health. Fiber helps to lower the level of cholesterol in the body and thereby, reduce the risk for diseases like, atherosclerosis. It helps to lower blood sugar as well.

Considering the various basmati rice nutrition facts, it can be concluded that this rice is not only delicious but nutritious as well. The brown variety is however, more nutritious and flavorful than the white basmati rice. Basmati rice has been in use for a long time in India and Pakistan and therefore more commonly features in the rice recipes of these countries. Today, several varieties and hybrids of basmati rice are available throughout the world.

No comments:

Post a Comment