Health Benefits Of Bamboo Rice & Recipes

Bamboo seeds are nutrient-dense, and they are being used to replace paddy in many tribal areas in the western ghats and the northeast. Bamboo seed, in fact, has a higher protein level than rice and wheat.

Rice also contains carbs, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, and B6, minerals calcium, iron, and phosphorus, and fibre, in addition to protein. Because of the fast release of energy, rice is particularly nutritious, especially for small kids.

1. Enhances Fertility

The Kani tribes of Kanyakumari have conducted significant research on the health benefits of bamboo rice. The rice diet is favourable to the tribe's reproductive ability and fertility, according to the study.

2. Controls rheumatic pain and joint pain

Because bamboo rice is high in calcium, it helps to maintain bone health and manage joint, rheumatism, arthritis, and backbone discomfort.

3. Controls Diabetes

Rice has a low glycemic index, so diabetes is kept under control. It's also high in phosphorus and iron, which keep your heart in good shape and keep heart enlargement at bay.

4. Lowers Cholesterol Level

Bamboo seeds do not contain any fat. The carbohydrates included slowly raise blood glucose levels, which aids in the reduction of cholesterol buildup. Because of the low glycemic index, it is also possible to burn fat that has already been stored.

5. High Phosphorus content

Bamboo seeds have a phosphorus content of about 218 mg per cent, which is a good quantity for any rice.

Phosphorus is essential for life.

• Bones and teeth are formed.
• It also controls how the body consumes carbohydrates and lipids, allowing it to store more protein for development, maintenance, and repair of essential organs and tissues.
• It works in tandem with B vitamins to ensure that kidney function, muscular contraction, heart rate, and nerve signalling are all within normal limits.

6. Regulates Blood Pressure

By preserving the mineral elements in the body, eating rice on a regular basis keeps your blood pressure in the normal range. Iron, calcium, and phosphorus all work together to keep heart and brain coordination in check.

What Is Bamboo Rice ?

Bamboo is a grass, and its inflorescence is similar to that of other grasses like wheat, rice, and so on. Bamboo seeds are very comparable in size and form to paddy rice seeds. These are bamboo rice seeds. Bamboo rice, or Mulayari as it is often known, is similar to any other rice type, yet it is discovered to be exceptionally nutritious.

The nutrition is primarily due to the plant's inability to grow inflorescence in a timely manner. Rice, which is somewhat chewy when cooked, has been researched to provide the finest nutrition for both children and adults. Bamboo plants occur in clusters in the deepest Indian woods. These plants are tough and grow up to 8 feet tall, with some growing much higher, and they're as juicy as any other grass.

Bamboo juice is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat asthma, cough, and cleanse the liver. You'll need a young bamboo plant to gain the benefits of bamboo juice. Young bamboo shoots are also beneficial to one's health. Bamboo shoots are used as food in various parts of India due to their therapeutic properties.

Bamboo blossoms are pale red in colour and produce 1/3-inch seeds that resemble barley seeds and are initially green in colour. Moongil arisi is the Tamil name for it.

What Is the Appearance of Bamboo Rice?

If you visit the Wayanad Sanctuary in Kerala, you may notice little children and women from the local tribes harvesting rice from beneath every bamboo grove you pass. They will clear the area around the grove for this, and some will even throw a clean cloth around it and allow the bamboo rice fall on it. Bamboo rice is a minor forest crop in these places, and indigenous groups have been granted harvesting rights. This Mulayarisi or moongil arisi is these tribes' primary source of revenue as well as their primary source of protein.

Is Bamboo Rice Different From Other Rice?

Bamboo rice resembles paddy rice in appearance. Raw rice has a wheat-like flavour but is gluten-free. These seeds have a mild pungency to their aroma, but they are delicious to taste. When rice is cooked, it becomes slightly sticky and chewy when eaten. The cooking technique is comparable to that of any other rice, and it can be used in lieu of rice with dal or sambar. Banbooo rice kheer is a particular savoury cooked on auspicious occasions, and Bamboo rice pongal or kichdi is also delicious.

Is Bamboo Rice Safe For Children?

Because of the numerous health benefits, it has shown to be an excellent supplement for youngsters, owing to its high nutritional value. Rice is beneficial to children in the following ways.

• Because it is high in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, it gives the youngster a lot of energy.
• Detoxes the vital organs and aids in the proper functioning of each one.
• Enhances appetite and alleviates indigestion.
• relieves pain and prevents the onset of any type of bone disease
• assists with bone and muscle development and strengthening
• aids in the growth of teeth and the maintenance of oral health

Easy Bamboo Rice Recipes For Kids

Because bamboo rice, like other cereals and millets, becomes sticky when cooked, it's important to know what kind of preparations are appropriate for this rice.

Easy Bamboo Rice Powder Porridge

Clean the bamboo rice and powder it; this is the most convenient way to eat it, especially for kids. Make porridge with this rice powder and feed it to your child every morning; it does wonders for children in terms of weight gain, alertness, and general well-being.

How can you prepare Porridge with Bamboo Rice Powder?

• To form a slurry, combine one tablespoon of rice powder with half a cup of cold water.
• Boil 1 cup of water, then add the slurry to the hot water using a laddle, stirring constantly until the rice powder is cooked.
• Depending on your children's preferences, you can add jaggery, castor sugar, or palm sugar.
• Remove from heat after a few more whisks.
• It's time to eat your simple bamboo powder porridge.

Bamboo Rice Sweet Porridge /Kheer

Ingredients

• Bamboo rice : 1/4 cup
• Milk : 1/2 L
• Sugar : as per your taste
• Coconut milk thick : 1 cup
• Ghee : 1tsp
• Cashew : 4-5

Method

• Soak the rice for 30 minutes after washing it. Cook for 6 whistles in 3/4 cup water, then simmer for 10 minutes.
• In a thick-bottomed pot, bring milk to a boil. Add the cooked rice and continue to boil until the milk has been reduced to half its original volume.
• Combine the coconut sugar and coconut milk in a mixing bowl. Continue to heat for an additional 10 minutes.
• Ghee-fried cashews are added to the kheer.
• Serve warm or chilled.

Bamboo Rice Khichdi /pongal

Ingredients

• Bamboo rice : 1 cup
• Moong dal : 1/3 cup
• Water : 3 cups
• Ghee : 1 tbsp
• Pepper : 1 tsp
• Cumin : 1 tsp
• Ginger : 1 tsp finely chopped
• Cashew : 5-6
• Curry leaves : 4-5
• Hing : a pinch
• Salt : as needed

Method

• Bamboo rice should be washed and soaked for 30 minutes. In 3 cups of water, pressure boil the rice and dal combination for around 6 whistles, then simmer for 10 minutes.
• Season the cooked rice with salt and hing. In a kadai, heat the ghee and cook the remaining ingredients in the order listed. Combine them with the rice and stir well.
• Serve with a scoop of coconut chutney on the side.

Sticky bamboo rice can also be served with fish curry, mutton curry, or spicy Indian curries to compensate for the stickiness.