Search

Wild rice is a nutritious grain that was an important crop for ancient North Americans, and then dispersed into eastern Asia. Recognized as a whole grain in 2006, wild rice is a rich source of minerals, vitamins, protein, starch, dietary fiber, and various phytochemicals. It is low in fat, with a beneficial fatty acids profile. Additionally, wild rice is gluten free. Due to its unique nutritional value, the crop should be promoted as a healthy food source. Although North American wild rice has become very popular, and is widely available in supermarkets and resturaunts, its health-promoting properties have not been widely investigated. To date, only a few in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated antioxidant- and lipid-lowering effects of wild rice. In this chapter, the potential health-promoting properties are summarized.