**I LOVE plants that can be neglected and still thrive well!** **GROWN ON OUR FARM HERE IN TENNESSEE** Forbidden black rice – why is it “forbidden” ? cultivated in china since 2,500 years ago according to records, chinese black rice was the purview of emperors, and forbidden to be eaten by commoners. this probably had more to do with the fact that black rice was a minute part of overall rice cultivation, and like any rarified food, was available only to the elite classes. even today, rare small production foods like beluga caviar and alba truffles are consumed by those who can afford its steep prices. market economics of supply and demand have not changed all that much in two thousand years. forbidden black rice is the most nutritious rice on the planet. it contains five times more protein and minerals than white rice. forbidden black rice is rich in iron, calcium, zinc, manganese and selenium. it also has vitamins B1, B2 and B3. i recommend black rice to vegetarians to prevent anemia. anthocyanins are dark pigments that are powerful antioxidants. black rice has four times the anthocyanin content of black beans. in 1999, research showed that enzymes in black rice effectively lowers the level of cholesterol in blood. It’s been known that brown rice is healthier than white rice. A latest study reveals that black rice is even healthier than brown rice in terms of antioxidant content. Black rice was found to be rich in health-promoting anthocyanin antioxidants, which is also found in blackberries and blueberries. About the study Zhimin Xu, associate professor at the food science department at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in Baton Rouge revealed in a news release from American Chemical Society that “Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar and more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants.” Anthocyanin antioxidants have shown promise for fighting heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. **Forbidden black rice is NOT sticky rice**