This food, called "Super Rice," not only nourishes the liver and kidneys but also has anti-cancer effects. It is a comprehensive and nourishing health food from head to toe, worthy of being served on the table every day.

The seven essential elements to open the door: rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea. Among the various grains, rice is the most common and nutritious food. In daily life, rice is an indispensable food with obvious significance and role. In addition to common grains such as black rice, millet, and brown rice, these coarse grains are not only beneficial to health but also have certain health benefits that should not be ignored.

Today, I will talk to you about a rice treasure called "Black Pearl" - black rice.

This food, called "Super Rice," not only nourishes the liver and kidneys but also has anti-cancer effects.

Black rice, our ancient and precious rice variety, is named after the deep black color of the seed coat on the surface. Archaeological records show that ancient China had the habit and technology of processing black rice into edible rice, using methods such as boiling and stir-frying. The "Guoyu" in the Warring States Period already recorded relevant content about black rice; in the Tang Dynasty, black rice cultivated in the imperial fields was listed as a tribute.

In folk culture, black rice is known as "medicinal rice" and "longevity rice" and is highly respected for its high-quality edible and medicinal value.

What are the benefits of black rice?

1. Nourishing the Liver and Kidneys

According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, black rice is a neutral food with a sweet taste and belongs to the spleen and stomach meridians. It has the effects of nourishing yin, tonifying the kidneys, invigorating the spleen, warming the liver, improving vision, and promoting blood circulation. Frequent consumption of black rice can not only prevent liver damage but also promote liver repair, thus nourishing and protecting the liver.

2. Lowering Blood Sugar and Blood Lipid Levels

Modern research has shown that the anthocyanin pigments in the black bran have excellent antioxidant properties, which can effectively lower blood lipid levels, prevent atherosclerosis, and help regulate blood sugar levels. Therefore, diabetic patients can frequently consume this pigment.

3. Preventing Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Minerals such as potassium and magnesium in black rice have the effects of regulating blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Because black rice is an important part of dietary conditioning for cardiovascular disease patients, it can be considered as a beneficial food choice.

4. Inhibiting Cancer Cell Proliferation and Inducing Cancer Cell Apoptosis

The anthocyanins in black rice bran have the property of inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and inducing cancer cell apoptosis. Therefore, it also has certain effects in the prevention of colon cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and other cancers.

Have you been attracted by the various benefits of black rice and started to become eager to try it? Today, I will introduce several delicious black rice soup recipes for you! Please stay calm. Although black rice is of high quality, if not consumed properly, its quality will be greatly reduced.

In general, after simple husking and rough processing, black rice does not have a satisfactory texture as rice. In fact, black rice has good color, aroma, and taste, and it is rich in nutrients needed by the human body - melanin. If you want to enjoy delicious food while maintaining your health, you can try cooking it with other ingredients to make porridge. Here are a few pairing methods.

By pairing black rice with an ingredient, the health benefits can be multiplied.

1. Black Rice + Goji Berries: Nourish the liver, nourish the kidneys, and brighten the eyes

Goji berries have the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys, nourishing essence, and improving eyesight. They have a sweet taste and a neutral nature and can enter the liver and kidney meridians. In the approaching winter, people often like to eat fresh goji berries. Cooking them with black rice can not only nourish the liver and brighten the eyes but also promote spleen and stomach health, nourish kidney qi, and nourish essence and blood, making it the best dietary choice at this time.

★ Black Rice and Goji Berry Porridge

Method: Wash 50g of black rice and soak it overnight in advance. Wash 30g of goji berries and 80g of glutinous rice separately. Mix the soaked black rice, goji berries, and glutinous rice together and cook them until they form a delicious porridge.

2. Black Rice + Lily Bulbs: Moisturize the lungs, aid sleep, and promote bowel movements

According to traditional Chinese medicine, lily bulbs have a slightly cold property and can enter the heart and lung meridians, with the effects of moisturizing the lungs, stopping coughs, calming the mind, and soothing the nerves. Black rice is a grain that can be used as both food and medicine, with the effects of nourishing yin, moistening dryness, and clearing heat. When paired with lily bulbs, it can moisturize the lungs, promote intestinal peristalsis, relieve irritability, and help sleep.

★ Black Rice and Lily Bulb Porridge

Method: Wash 50g of black rice and 30g of lily bulbs in advance and soak them overnight. Wash 80g of glutinous rice separately. Cook the soaked black rice, lily bulbs, and glutinous rice together until they form a delicious porridge. Before enjoying it, you can add honey for seasoning.

3. Black Rice + Job's Tears: Nourish the liver, invigorate the spleen, and eliminate dampness

Job's tears have the effects of clearing heat, promoting diuresis, invigorating the spleen, and nourishing the lungs. When paired with black rice, it has a better spleen-strengthening effect, can more effectively eliminate dampness, and is also a good food for clearing heat and nourishing the liver.

★ Black Rice and Job's Tears Porridge

Method: Take 50g of black rice and 30g of Job's tears. Wash the black rice and soak it overnight, and wash the Job's tears and soak them for half a day. Wash 80g of glutinous rice separately. Mix the soaked Job's tears and glutinous rice with the soaked black rice water and cook them until they form a delicious porridge.

TIPS:

1. In the husk of black rice, there are rich nutrients. However, repeated washing can cause these nutrients to gradually dissolve in water and eventually be lost. The surface of black rice has a layer of gelatinous layer, which can protect the rice grains from oxidation. Therefore, when washing black rice, it is only necessary to rinse it 1-2 times to avoid repeated washing.

2. The outer layer of black rice has a high toughness and should not be overcooked. It is recommended to soak it thoroughly before cooking to ensure that the moisture of black rice will not be lost, thereby providing necessary nutrition for the subsequent cooking process.

Mastering these three techniques will easily obtain safe and high-quality black rice.

Although black rice contains rich nutrients and diverse effects, how to select safe and high-quality rice is still a thought-provoking question. How to choose high-quality black rice? Here are three techniques:

1. Look

High-quality black rice grains have uniform and plump sizes, glossy colors without any flaws or traces of insect damage. Generally, black rice with a high-quality is black. The color pigment of black rice is highly concentrated in the bran layer, while the rice kernel appears pure white. If black rice grains contain a large amount of impurities and starch particles, there may be discoloration phenomena such as yellow, green, or even red, which is called "color change." When the outer layer of black rice is scraped or broken, if the color in the center of the rice grain appears dull or non-white, it is likely to be a dyed grain.

2. Smell

High-quality black rice emits a fresh aroma without any peculiar smell, while low-quality black rice has a moldy and rotten smell that makes people uncomfortable.

3. Soak

If the water soaked in high-quality black rice turns purple or purplish-red, it is likely to be a dyed grain, while if the soaking water turns black, gray, or purplish-black, it is likely to be a dyed grain.

In addition, you can grab a handful of black rice and put it in a white plate, add an appropriate amount of white vinegar or other acidic solution. If you observe that the water gradually changes from purple-red to peach-red, you can confirm that it is non-dyed rice and there is no need to worry about consumption.