Rice is often overlooked as a great source of nutrition. It’s not that it doesn’t have nutritional value, it just doesn’t get the attention it deserves from the mass media. Americans don’t like to eat white rice for a change. Because of this, you will find that there are many Asian restaurants in most cities that specialize in rice dishes. In fact, most places that serve Japanese food will also serve rice dishes.
To truly appreciate the nutritional value of rice, it helps to learn how it is made and prepare it the right way. Historically, rice was a major food of China and Japan. It was consumed by the samurai warriors when they were away from home preparing it for their meals while others enjoyed a sweet jasmine rice after they came back home. Over time, rice expanded from being served only during war to being a main staple food in many Asian countries including the United States.
Rice is a grain that has many varieties that are grown in different parts of the world including India, China, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and more. The most common type of rice that is used for food preparation today is brown rice. Brown rice contains more beneficial nutrients than other varieties and is considered to be a healthier choice. One such valuable nutrient found in brown rice is bran which is a component of the grain that makes up about 60 percent of the rice.