Rice is a staple food in many countries and provides billions of people around the world with an inexpensive, nutritious source of energy. There are many varieties of this popular grain that differ in color, flavor, and nutritional value. Some are abundant in nutrients and powerful plant compounds that benefit health, while others have less impressive nutrition profiles, as previously noted. Here Leslie Locklear, Food.news, reflects on potent antioxidants of rice:

“Rice is one of the most widely-consumed grains on the planet, with about 486.62 million metric tons of rice consumed worldwide in 2018 alone.

Despite being known primarily for its carbohydrate content, rice is actually packed with proteins, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers, as well as phytonutrients such as phenols and flavonoids that act as antioxidants.

This is according to an international team of researchers from Korea and India who analyzed the presence of phenolic compounds in three variants of rice that can be found in most markets, namely organic, pesticide-free, and conventional.

Of the three variants, the pesticide-free variant had the highest amount of phenolic compounds, followed by conventional and organic rice. These phenolic compounds are capable of preventing various illnesses as well as other health problems.

Which antioxidants can be found in rice?

In addition, the red, dark purple, and black pigmented rice species are rich in tannins, flavones, and amino acids, with anthocyanins such as cyanidin, malvidin, and pelargonidin being the major pigments.

Antioxidants are highly valued for their ability to scavenge free radicals — unstable atoms that can damage cells and cause illness and aging — from the body. This makes them valuable when it comes to preventing the development of chronic health problems such as cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, cataracts and even cancer.

With that said, here are some of the antioxidants found in rice and their health benefits:

Ferulic acid – Best known for its skin-protective properties, ferulic acid is usually applied topically in order to treat sun damage as well as some of the signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. When taken orally, it is said to help enhance athletic performance.

Salicylic acid – Salicylic acid belongs to a class of compounds known as salicylates. Just like ferulic acid, salicylic acid is usually applied topically in order to help the skin shed dead cells. This mechanism combats acne formation and speeds up their healing.

Caffeic acid – A type of polyphenol, caffeic acid is said to have many health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and fatigue, as well as help prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. It is also said to be effective against the toxic side effects of chemotherapy.

Gallic acid – A potent antioxidant, gallic acid is reported to possess several therapeutic abilities and is said to be effective when it comes to treating gastrointestinal, neuropsychological, metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.”

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