KOMPAS.com – Porang rice is now starting to be known as a healthier alternative to rice, especially for those who want to follow a low sugar diet.
Even though it is still less popular than shirataki rice from Japan, porang rice has its own advantages as an authentic Indonesian product.
However, what exactly is porang rice, and where does it come from?
Also read: At first glance they are similar, this is the difference between Porang rice and Shirataki rice according to doctors
What is porang rice?
Porang rice does not come from rice plants like rice in general. On the other hand, this rice is processed from porang tubers, a type of tuber that is in the same family as the konjac (konnyaku) plant.
If konjac is often processed into shirataki rice, porang has its own uniqueness and advantages, especially because of its nutritional content.
Porang plant (Amorphophallus muelleri Blume) is a native Indonesian plant that grows widely in the forests of Java Island. In contrast to konjac (Amorphophallus konjac), a plant native to Japan, porang has higher levels of glucomannan.
Glucomannan is a natural fiber found in the roots of this plant, and in porang, the content reaches 65 percent, much higher than konjac which only contains 44 percent.
Also read: Eating Porang Rice Every Day for Diet, Is It OK?
The advantages of porang rice
One of the main advantages of porang rice is its high glucomannan content. Glucomannan has various health benefits, including:
- Reduces Hunger: Glucomannan can reduce levels of the hormone ghrelin, a hormone that regulates hunger. This helps reduce appetite and is suitable for those who want to lose weight.
- Low in Calories and Cholesterol: Porang rice has low calorie and cholesterol content, making it a healthy choice for a diet.
- Improves Digestive Function: High fiber content helps improve digestive function.
- Lowers Cholesterol and Blood Sugar: Consuming porang rice can help keep cholesterol and blood sugar levels stable.
Benefits of the porang plant
The porang plant or what is often called iles-iles is a local Indonesian food ingredient that is easy to cultivate.
Processed rice from porang tubers is an alternative when the price of white rice is increasingly high.According to data from the Research Institute for Industrial and Refreshment Crops, porang has a fairly high carbohydrate content, so it can be an alternative staple food and substitute for rice.
Apart from that, processed porang is also considered to have other benefits, such as:
- Improve the body’s immune system
- Helps lose weight
- Suitable as a food ingredient for diabetics because it is low in sugar
Also read: 4 Differences between Porang and Suweg, from Color to Processing
Porang rice is not only a healthy alternative for diets, but also a product that reflects Indonesia’s natural wealth. With its various benefits, this rice has great potential to become a staple food choice in the future.
If you are looking for an alternative to rice that is low in calories, low in sugar, and rich in fiber, porang rice is an option worth considering.
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