Farmers at work in a rice field in India.
Joha rice from India has the advantage of not raising blood sugar levels. That’s good news for diabetics and people with diabetes people at risk for this disease. After all, rice is a staple on the menu in many countries in the South and diabetes also hits this region particularly hard.
Joha rice, the fragrant rice variety from northeastern India, not only prevents type 2 diabetes, but is also rich in unsaturated fatty acids. These are then necessary to prevent heart disease, doctors know.
Lifestyle and diet
According to the International Diabetes Federation, diabetes is a global health problem. By 2021, there were an estimated 537 million adults ages 20 to 79 with a diagnosis of diabetes. That figure is expected to rise to 783 million by 2045.
Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common, although the disease is reversible through changes in lifestyle and diet, such as moderating the consumption of white rice. Rice is a staple on the daily menu in many countries, but it can affect blood sugar levels and thus increase the risk of diabetes.
Joha rice is a short grain winter variety known for its unique aroma and taste. The health benefits of the variety caught the attention of researchers at India’s Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) due to the common belief that people who regularly consume this rice are spared from diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“Such claims of nutritional properties required scientific validation,” said study leader Rajlakshmi Devi. “That’s how we started the lab studies.”
Unsaturated fatty acids
Studies in the IASST lab revealed the presence of two unsaturated fatty acids: linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic acid (omega-3). These are important for human health and must be absorbed through diet as they are not naturally produced by the body, explains Devi.
Joha rice was also found to be effective in lowering glucose levels and preventing diabetes in so-called in vitro tests in the laboratory and on rats.
According to it Indian Ministry of Science and Technology the rice variety turned out to contain valuable antioxidants, which makes Joha a ‘nutraceutical par excellence’ in the treatment of diabetes. The statement states that Joha contains a number of bioactive compounds that are said to have “antioxidant effects, control blood sugar and protect the heart.”
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“As rice is a staple in the Asia-Pacific region and also widely consumed worldwide, we believe that popularizing this rice variety with potent anti-diabetic activity could greatly help reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. ‘ says Devi.
Worldwide increase in type 2 diabetes
If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that maintains blood sugar levels and regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, type 2 diabetes results. Doctors worldwide are noticing that the condition is becoming more common.
In most cases, type 2 diabetes causes hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or hyperlipidemia (high levels of lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides).
In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Unlike type 2 diabetes, there is no cure for type 1 diabetes. Treatment is limited to constant monitoring of blood sugar levels.
Basic food
In the top 10 countries with the highest incidence of diabetes by 2021, rice is a staple of the daily diet, said Putlih Adzra Pautong, a researcher at the International Rice Research Institute,
She believes that rice research will be crucial to reducing type 2 diabetes and related diseases among populations that consume a lot of rice.
Rats that were made diabetic were found to recover when put on a diet of Joha rice. They showed high blood insulin levels and improved sugar metabolism, compared to diabetic rats fed other rice varieties, says Devi.
Rice farmers
The next step will be to increase the demand for Joha rice and encourage rice farmers to grow more of this variety.
“Farmers are not ready yet because they are not fully aware of the nutraceutical potential of Joha rice,” explains Devi.
‘It would help enormously if government policy was geared towards raising awareness of the health benefits of Joha and encouraging farmers to start cultivating it.’
According to Abdul Fiyaz, senior scientist at the Indian Agricultural Research Council, popularizing Joha rice should not be difficult. ‘Not only is it a promising option for diabetics, but the strain also stimulates the senses with its captivating aroma and smooth texture. It really is a culinary treasure,” he says.
“Several studies show that the aromatic compounds in Joha rice not only enhance the flavor profile, but also have potential health benefits,” says Fiyaz. “The combination of aroma and beneficial nutrients makes it an attractive choice.”
“India faces a lot of diabetics – 77 million people in 2019 and more than 134 million by 2045, according to estimates,” said Ganesh Bagler, Professor of Gastronomic Data at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology in New Delhi. “Therefore, it is vital that Joha rice and similar foods, which are known to be affordable and protect against this condition, are popularized,” concludes Bagler.
This article was previously published by IPS partner Scidev.net
2023-07-19 03:03:22
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