Is Jasmine Rice Plant Based?

Rice, the staple food in most homes around the world, comes in different varieties. Jasmine rice is a long-grain variety popularly used in daily meals for energy and nutrition. A lot of people would want to know whether this rice variety is a good addition to a plant-based diet. 

So, is jasmine rice plant based? Jasmine rice, like any other variety of rice, is plant-based. It is a grain obtained from plants and contains no animal-based component. Both white and brown varieties of jasmine rice are ideal for a plant-based diet.

Is Jasmine Rice Plant Based?

Let us discuss more about jasmine rice, its ingredients, health benefits and nutrition to find out whether it should be consumed on a plant-based diet. 

Why Jasmine Rice is Plant Based?

Jasmine rice is very much similar to regular rice but has a unique fragrance resembling popcorn. In its pure form, jasmine rice is the grains obtained from plants after removing the bran. It is sold in this form without adding any other ingredients and is therefore plant-based. 

Depending on the variety you choose, it can be either refined or whole. However, plain jasmine rice is plant based as long as you don’t add any animal product to it.

What Are The Main Ingredients in Jasmine Rice?

Jasmine rice is a stickier variety of rice with a soft, moist texture and a sweet flavor. It is either cooked by boiling or used in different varieties after grinding into flour. It is obtained as a grain from the plant and milled to remove bran and hull. 

While the brown variety has only husk removed, the white jasmine rice is processed to remove the bran as well. It is a purely plant-based food that does not need any additives to be available for consumption. Most often, jasmine rice comes fortified with minerals and vitamins which are generally plant-based and free of any animal products.

Jasmine Rice Nutrition

Jasmine rice is a processed rice variety with a nutritional profile much similar to other types of rice. It also comes in varieties like red, black, purple and brown, each having a slightly different nutritional value. Adding this rice to your everyday meal can offer a number of health benefits. It is low in fat, a good source of energy and can help you get your daily iron requirement. 

Here is the nutritional information of one serving each of different varieties of jasmine rice.

Jasmine Rice ¼ cup servingWhite UncookedBrown Uncooked
Calories160160
Carbohydrates35g35g
Fiber0.5g2g
Protein3g3g
Fat0g1g

Jasmine rice, both varieties, is an excellent way to get daily carbohydrates from the diet. You can use brown jasmine rice to get some dietary fiber for improved bowel function and blood sugar control. It is rich in protein and has no fat. Most brands are fortified with iron to provide up to 8 percent of the daily recommended intake. 

Jasmine rice also contains sodium and calcium in small amounts. Along with iron, most brands fortify it with B vitamins. Some brands of jasmine rice even provide folic acid, meeting up to 20 percent of the daily value. 

Conclusion

So, you can add jasmine rice to your plant-based diet without any concern. Pairing it with other healthy, plant-based foods helps you get your everyday nutrients and energy. Make sure you consume it in moderation with other plant-based foods to keep up with your health and fitness goals.