Poongar Rice (sprout activated, parboiled) ORGANIC

Did you know that Poongar rice is referred to as “women’s rice” due to its specific health benefits for women. It has been scientifically linked to promoting reproductive health, improving hormonal balance, and supporting overall vitality in women. Poongar rice is known for being rich in iron, which helps prevent anemia—a condition that disproportionately affects women. Additionally, its high antioxidant and fiber content is believed to benefit bone health and digestion, making it particularly valued in women’s diets across generations.

Poongar Rice – an indigenous red rice variety, sprout-activated®, parboiled, and partially semipolished. “Semipolished” refers to the milling process, where part of the outer bran layers are partially removed, in order to make it as a table rice since the handpounded version is very chewy and rakes long time to cook as well.

Sprout Activation Process: Poongar rice undergoes a controlled sprout activation process with its husk, which involves soaking the grains in water for a specified duration, allowing the rice to initiate germination. This enzymatic activation enhances the bioavailability of essential nutrients, especially amino acids, B-vitamins, and antioxidants, while reducing anti-nutritional factors like phytic acid. After germination, the rice is carefully dried to halt further sprouting, ensuring optimal nutrient preservation.

Parboiling Process: Following sprout activation, Poongar rice is subjected to parboiling, a hydrothermal treatment that involves soaking, steaming, and drying the grains while still in their husks. This process helps nutrients, particularly water-soluble vitamins and minerals, to migrate from the outer bran layers into the endosperm, making the rice nutritionally dense. Additionally, parboiling improves the rice’s cooking qualities, making it firmer and less prone to breaking.

Semipolished Milling: During milling, Poongar rice is semipolished, meaning that approximately 80% of the bran and germ layers are retained. This preserves a significant portion of its nutritional content, while making the rice more palatable and easier to cook compared to fully unpolished rice, which can be chewy and require longer cooking times.

Nutritional and Health Benefits:

• Rich Nutritional Profile: Poongar rice is a powerhouse of nutrients, containing significant levels of fiber, vitamins (especially B-complex vitamins), minerals (like magnesium, zinc, and iron), and antioxidants such as anthocyanins.
• Lower Glycemic Index: Due to the preservation of the bran and germ layers and the sprout activation, Poongar rice has a slower digestion rate, resulting in a lower glycemic index. This is particularly beneficial for individuals managing blood sugar levels.
• Digestive Health: The high fiber content improves gut health, promotes better digestion, and aids in maintaining a healthy weight.
• Antioxidant Properties: The red pigmentation of Poongar rice, attributed to its anthocyanin content, offers antioxidant properties that help combat oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and potentially lower the risk of chronic diseases.

The combination of sprout activation, parboiling, and semipolishing ensures that Poongar rice stands out as a nutritionally superior and health-conscious choice, suits best as a table rice.

– MJ 🤗