Rice in health and nutrition
Rice is a dietary staple foods and one of the most importand cereal crops, especially for people in Asia. The consumption of rice is associated with diabetes mellitus due to its high glycemic index. In other hand, some of rice components namely rice bran and rice bran oil contained some minor components which are reported to have some biological effects. Rice can be contaminated by some toxic elements such as arsenic and mercury coming from water and land in which it grows. Besides, some mycotoxins and mould can be present in rice. Therefore, some goverments control rice available in their market. Rice bran will produce rice bran oil and defatted rice bran. Defatted rice bran component consist a number of polysaccharide and dietary fiber that support in cancer and cardiovascular diet therapy. This reviews will cover some new research information on rice, rice bran and rice bran oil, especially in the biological activities and nutritional aspects to human. Such biological activities which are related to rice and its products are decreasing low density lipoprotein level, lowering cholesterol, reducing blood pressure and preventing colorectal cancer.