What Are the Health Benefits of Mahogany Rice?

Mahogany is often used to describe the color and type of wood in furniture. But it is also the name of mahogany rice, a healthy whole grain with a nutty taste and chewy consistency. Classified as a red rice, it can vary in color from burgundy to deep red-brown. It has the health benefits of all whole grains and is a good choice to increase your nutrition. Rice is the least likely whole grain to cause allergies, but check with your medical professional if you have grain allergies.

Nutrients

Mahogany rice is a nutrient-dense rice similar to brown and wild rice. It is a good source of complex carbohydrates and high-quality protein. The protein in rice is easily digested protein, and carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for your body. One-quarter cup of a blend of dry mahogany and black rice supplies 4 grams of protein and 33 grams of carbohydrate, according to Lundberg Family Farms. The outer bran and rice germ are intact in whole-grain rice, providing nutrients such as selenium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. One-quarter cup of dry whole-grain rice contains 127 milligrams of potassium, 68 milligrams of magnesium and 125 milligrams of phosphorus. The germ is the embryo of the grain and supplies the nutrients for the grain to sprout. It is also a good source of the antioxidants called flavonoids, that protect your cells from being damaged by free radicals. The darker the rice color, the more flavonoids, according to "Today's Dietitian."

Cardiovascular Health

Whole grains have health advantages over refined and processed grains. When you eat whole grains, you may lower your total cholesterol, LDL or bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Heart disease risk is reduced 25 to 28 percent and stroke is reduced 30 to 36 percent, according to the Whole Grains Council. A study in the 1999 "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that women who ate two to three servings of whole grains per day were 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack or stroke when compared to women who ate whole grains only once a week. The study covered a period of 10 years. In the 2008 issue of "Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases," researchers at the Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University, reviewed seven studies with quantitative amounts of dietary whole grains and clinical cardiovascular outcomes. They concluded that 2.5 servings of whole grains per day provided a 21 percent lower risk of cardiovascular events when compared to 0.2 servings per day.

Digestive Health

The outer bran of mahogany rice is a good dietary fiber. Whole-grain fiber helps with constipation by keeping stool soft and increasing bulk. Dietary fiber is not absorbed in your body; its health benefits keep your intestines moving food efficiently through your GI tract. Dietary fiber may help with Irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids and diverticulosis, according to the MayoClinic.com.

Uses

Cook mahogany rice as you would any whole-grain rice. Use a rice cooker or boil water and then add the rice, cover and simmer. The cooking time is longer than for white rice; usually 45 minutes is needed to soften the grain. Include vegetables, spices, herbs and small pieces of diced fruit, and enjoy it as a hot side dish or main meal. Mix with olive oil, vinegar and fresh vegetables; refrigerate and serve as a cold rice salad.