TRADITIONAL RICE VARIETIES OF TAMILNADU AND ITS HEALTH BENIFITS

Tamilnadu is famous for its rich cultural heritage from time immemorial. Ancient forefathers of ours gave immense importance to arts, culture, science, food and health. In particular tamil farmers are traditionally rich in their agriculture knowledge, organic farming and cropping techniques. But from the colonial era ancient tamil traditional treasures had slowly lost only by one and the most important of them all is that we slowly forget our traditional food varities.In this article i made a small attempt in creating awareness of the traditional rice  varities of tamilnadu and its rich nutritious and health significance.In totally there were more than 10000 varities of rice in ancient tamilnadu. But as of now only 63 of the traditional varities of rice are in use and only 19 of them are prominent among the farmers.We can look into the insights on some of the most important traditional rice varieties one by one.

1.KAATUYAANAM  RICE

ü The grain in the field grows more than 7 foot tall and even an elephant can disappear amidst the crop.

ü It controls Diabetes, improves over all health of children, boosts immunity and protects against skin problems.

ü It improves sexual vigour, acts as a cardiotonic.

ü Best suited for marshy soils

2.KAVUNI  RICE

Black kavuni rice

ü Consumed by tamil kings

ü This rice is in existence from Chola period.

ü Anticancer, improves secretion of insulin

ü Excretes wastes from our body acting as a natural detoxifying agent

ü The South Indian Chettinad community, in the ancient days, widely used this Karuppu Kavuni Arisi. Even today, there is no royal family Chettinad wedding without a dessert with Kavuni Arisi

ü Kavuni Rice is found to be the richest source of anthocyanin

ü Rich in fiber

ü kavuni rice also has 18 amino acids present in it.

Sivappu kavuni rice

ü Good for bones

ü Improves immunity

3.ARUVATHAAM KURUVAI RICE

ü Increases sexual stamina

ü Acts as Cardiotonic

ü Stimulates growth

ü Improves good cholesterol

ü Short term crop cultivated in sixty days

4.KARUNKURUVAI RICE

ü It has a KAYAKALPAM property which protects our body. siddhars use this rice variety to prepare medicines.

ü It gives enormous strength to bones

ü It boosts our body’s immune system

ü It improves sexual vigour

5.MAAPILLAI SAMBA  RICE

ü It prevents Ulcer

ü Acts as Neurotonic

ü It improves sexual vigour

ü It is very good for bridegroom who is going to get married

ü  It strengthens immune system

ü Increase Haemoglobin content.

ü Increase brain strength

ü Reduces body heat

ü Good for diabetics persons

ü Fibrous in nature

ü Fights against cancer

6.POONGAAR RICE

ü It is very good for womens health and in particular for pregnant women.

ü It strengthens the  pelvis bone

ü It will ease for normal delivery

ü Good source for breast milk secretion 

  

7. SIGAPPU KUDAVAAZHAI RICE

ü Good for intestine

ü Good for diabetes

ü Good for constipation

8.KULLAKAAR RICE

ü Good for treating Obesity

ü Reduce BMI(Body Mass Index)

ü Acts as a cardiotonic

ü Gives enormous strength to body

ü It possesses antioxidant properties, and has higher zinc and iron content than white rice.

9.GARUDAN SAMBA RICE

ü Cleans the intestine

ü Improves blood circulation and blood purification

ü Garudan Samba, an important Traditional variety of Tamil Nadu was investigated for its phytochemical screening and GCMS study. The brown rice was extracted using ethanol. The results obtained after GCMS studies were confirmed by spectral analysis. The analysis of the ethanol extract showed the presence of n-Hexadecanoic acid, 9,12- Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, and Oleic acid, as major constituents of the total compounds (76.33%), which have the capacity to prevent many health related disorders. It also contained the medicinally important compounds like Caryophyllene, Ethyl Oleate, Squalene, γ-Tocopherol, Lup-20(29)-en-3-ol, acetate, (3β)-, and phyto sterols like Campesterol, Stigmasterol and β-Sitosterol. Hence, Garudan samba may be considered as one of the important Traditional variety with high level of medicinally important phytoconstituents.

10.KARUTHAKKAR RICE

ü Used to treat piles

ü Prevents constipation

11.KULIYADICHAAN RICE

ü Good  source of breast milk secretion

ü Can grow in saline soils and withstand drought condition.

12.ILLUPAIPOO SAMBA RICE

ü Prevents paralysis

ü Treat rheumatism,arthritis

ü Good for diabetes

13.VAALAAN SAMBA RICE

ü It is very good for womens health and in particular for pregnant women.

ü It strengthens the  pelvis bone

ü It will ease for normal delivery 

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