Being a Malaysian, we are having rice daily. And do you know that rice contains have high glycaemic index (GI) value which is not good for health and can lead to obesity. Research shows that Malaysians had consumed an average of 80 kg of rice, per person, in 2016.
And recently, I had found out a home grown company which has produced a low glycaemic index (GI) superior red rice; Primera™ which is also high in fibre and rich in antioxidant. “It is developed through conventional breeding involving controlled cross-pollination between a Malaysian high yielding rice cultivar, MR219 and a wild rice, Oryza rufipogon,” said Prof Dr. Wickneswari Ratnam, Plant Genetics and Biotechnology expert from Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
“The glycaemic index (GI) figure indicates the relative ability of a carbohydrate to increase the level of glucose in the blood. In other words, GI is a ranking given to food to describe how quickly the carbohydrate in the food is broken down and absorbed into the bloodstream. Foods with a low GI value, are slowly digested, causing a slower and stable rise in blood sugar levels which reduces the risk of developing diabetic complications,” added Prof. Wickneswari Ratnam.
The glycaemic index (GI) scale ranges from 0 to 100, with the lower numbers representing a low GI food and the higher number representing a high GI food. Foods have been classified by GI into low (GI ≤ 55), medium (GI 56–69), and high (GI ≥ 70).
At the GI value of 46, Primera™ Rice, also known as UKMRC9 is classified as low GI foodSince Low GI food is slowly digested by the body, eating a healthy portion of it makes you will feel satiated and prevents you from getting hungry fast. Primera™ Rice, which has slightly nutty flavour and is pleasant to taste also supplies anthocyanin, a type of antioxidant that protects body cells against free radicals and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.
“A cup of PrimeraTM Rice that is plainly boiled in two and a half cups of water produces nutty-flavoured red rice that goes well with side dishes such as rendang, soup, curry, and stir-fried vegetables. The slightly chewy texture of the rice adds complexity to mouthfeel of your meal. The rice is not only enjoyable as plainly boiled rice, but it can also be cooked as nasi lemak, pilaf, fried rice, and salad. Recipes and educational articles on PrimeraTM Rice are available at www.nomatech.com.my,” said Puan Sharifah Nur Rahimah Syed Alias, Director and Head of Business Development of Nomatech Sdn. Bhd. She added that PrimeraTM Red Rice is now available at selected outlets such as Tesco, AEON Big, MyDin, The Store, Village Grocer, Giant, and also in online platforms at Lazada, Shopee and Presto Mall.