Brown rice a functional food

MANILA, Philippines –  Brown rice, also known as Pinawa, unpolished, dehulled, dehusked, and cargo rice, is distinguished by its unpolished nature, and not necessarily its color. It is similar to white rice in terms of calories, carbohydrates, fats, and protein content. But, brown rice packs more nutrients in because the bran and the embryo – where most of the other nutrients are found – are left intact in the milling process.

Additionally, studies show that brown rice can be considered as a functional food which has a significant role in improving the functions of the alimentary system and in the management of degenerative disorders.

According to the material published by the Brown Rice Advocates (BRADS), brown rice is an inexpensive source of energy and substantial source of vitamins, minerals and other non-nutritive active components that have significant health benefits as a dietary staple.

In the average Filipino diet, 100 grams of boiled white polished rice per meal constitutes 50 to 80 percent of the energy intake among children and adults. But it has been reported that various nutrients are removed from white polished rice, including as much as 15 percent protein, 85 percent fat, 90 percent calcium, 75 percent phosphorus, 80 percent thiamine, 70 percent riboflavin, and 68 percent niacin. Complete milling destroys half of the manganese, 60 percent of the iron and all of the dietary fibers and essential fatty acids.

Simply put, brown rice is a healthy alternative because it contains all these nutrients that help in bodily functions such as energy-production from proteins and carbohydrates and the synthesis of fatty acids which are important to the nervous system.

Currently, a company that is making it easier for Filipinos to shift to brown rice is SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC). With its Dona Maria Brown Rice varieties, the company aims to target not only the health conscious consumers, but also the general public.

Of this, Henry Lim, chairman & CEO of SLAC, said: “Continuous consumption of brown rice greatly helps in the way of protecting against sicknesses such as metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases,, the formation of gallstones, as well as certain types of cancer.”