Know About This Rice Variety That Guards Against Diabetes, Cancer and Heart Disease

New Delhi, June 23: Joha rice, mostly cultivated in the northeastern region of the country, is known for its nutraceutical properties as much as it is known for its aroma.

The Rice is known to lower the blood glucose level and prevent diabetes, thus acting as an important constituent in diabetic management. 

Scientists at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, who carried out studies about its nutraceutical properties, found that Joha rice can also prevent several metabolic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

Joha has also proved to be effective in lowering the blood glucose and preventing diabetes onset in diabetic rats.

“Through in vitro laboratory analysis, they detected two unsaturated fatty acids viz., linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic (omega-3) acid. These essential fatty acids (which humans cannot produce) can help maintain various physiological conditions,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday.

The scented Joha rice has a more balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in comparison to the widely consumed non-scented variety, the researchers said in their study.