Also known as, Mulayari, bamboo rice is a lesser-known type of rice that yields multiple health benefits. Particularly favorite amongst the tribal people, bamboo rice is counted as a superfood. Bamboo rice is nothing but seeds of bamboo that come out of a dried bamboo shoot during their last stage of life. When a bamboo shoot is about to reach its last stage, it becomes all the more useful. It flowers and produces numerous seeds to grow new trees. These tiny green-colored seeds are what we call bamboo rice.
Unlike, other types of rice, bamboo rice is rare because bamboo shoots flowers and produces these seeds between 25-115 years. So, not every season you will get bamboo shoots producing these healthy seeds cum rice. With a taste quite similar to wheat grain, bamboo rice comes with a mild smell. These are completely gluten-free rice if cooked properly and are quite sticky and easy to chew just like another superfood called quinoa.
How is Bamboo Rice Different from Normal Rice?
One big query that might crop in anyone’s mind is how is bamboo rice different from the normal rice we eat? Both look quite similar, but the bamboo rice is a bit chewier and stickier when cooked as compared to the normal paddy rice. Secondly, bamboo rice takes more time to cook compared to the normal rice we eat at home. Besides, the Glycaemic Index in bamboo rice is the lowest compared to other rice variants. It is approximately 20 in bamboo rice, whereas it is as high as 50 in Basmati Rice.
Bamboo Rice – Nutritional Fact Sheet
Bamboo rice is the superfood of your dreams, why? Let us verify by checking the nutritional content of these lesser-known types of rice that nature has bestowed upon us. Although, we call them rice, bamboo rice is a bit different from other types of rice available in the market. The nutritional value is very high as compared to wheat and normal rice.
Listed below is the nutritional value of ½ a cup of bamboo rice serving:
- Calories – 320
- Carbohydrates – 72 g
- Riboflavin – 35 g
- Protein – 6 g
- Dietary Fiber – 0.5 g
- Iron – 20% of Daily Value Allowance
- Phosphorus – 18 mg%
- Carotene – 12 mg%
- Calcium – 5 mg%
Health Benefits of Bamboo Rice
#1. Promotes Fertility
Some studies revealed that bamboo rice is extremely beneficial to boost a woman’s fertility. When these bamboo rice were fed to a female rat, she became sexually active and gave birth to countless offspring. Bamboo rice helps to improve fertility in human beings and therefore they are good for both men and women who are finding it hard to conceive.
#2. Regulates High Cholesterol
Being an ultimate source of fiber and phytosterols, bamboo rice can help reduce high cholesterol levels. You may not know but phytosterols help to reduce bad cholesterol levels or LDL and keep you away from cardiac diseases to a great extent.
#3. Regulates Blood Pressure
Be it the issue of low blood pressure or high blood pressure, you can rely on the hidden power of bamboo rice to manage your blood pressure. These types of rice are also beneficial to treat the endocrine disorder and thereby help manage blood pressure issues significantly.
#4. May Prevent Diabetes
On the other hand, when listing the various health benefits of bamboo rice, we can’t ignore that these help to prevent diabetes. It is because, bamboo rice is rich in linoleic acid, which is an effective antioxidant and can help improve the ovulatory function in women to prevent the risk of diabetes.
#5. Good for Bone Health
Up next, also note that consuming these bamboo seeds or rice is good for your bone health too. It helps in soothing inflammation caused due to rheumatoid arthritis and thereby can help relieve joint pain too. Some studies have proved that this type of rice helps to reduce back pain, and inflammatory cytokines too.
#6. Boost Up Mood
Bamboo rice on the other hand is also known to lift up your mood significantly. They have a calming effect on your nervous system and can easily regulate your mood by releasing two important neurotransmitters namely, dopamine, and serotonin. These two compounds are responsible for lifting your mood and improving your overall brain function.
#7. Good for Dental Health
Not many people realize the power of bamboo rice for their dental health. You will be surprised to know that these lesser-known rice types are rich in Vitamin B6, which helps to fight against dental bacteria and cavities. Side by side, the same vitamin is good for strengthening your teeth too.
#8. Aids in Digestion
Another reason for us to call bamboo rice a superfood no less than Kashmiri Clove is that it helps indigestion. Being a rich source of dietary fiber, these types of rice are good for your gut health and digestion. Regular consumption of bamboo rice helps to keep the gastrointestinal system in order.
#9. Relieves Cough
One of the surprising health benefits of bamboo rice is that it helps in relieving symptoms of cough. It is because these are rich in phosphorus content, which helps to soothe an irritating cough. Moreover, bamboo rice helps treat sore throat too due to the anti-asthmatic properties of phosphorus loaded in them.
How to Cook Bamboo Rice?
But one will be able to derive all its nutritional values only if one knows how to cook this rice properly. To cook bamboo rice, you first need to wash them properly and soak about 1 cup of this rice in 2.5 cups of water for about half an hour. Then pressure cooks them for about 5 whistles and cooks on simmer heat for about 7-8 minutes. If there is still water remaining in the rice, you can drain it and use it as a soup because it is highly nutritional.
The other different ways in which you can cook bamboo rice are:
- Bamboo Rice Kheer
- Bamboo Rice Pongal or Khichdi
The Takeaway
So, if you are looking for a superfood to support your whole body healthily, do consider buying a pack of bamboo rice from the market. We bet once you will start consuming these super-nutritional bamboo seeds, you will start encountering positive effects on both your body and mind. You can easily order them online from online portals like Amazon, 1mg, and many more.
