Tamil Nadu: New research to help you eat rice without fear of celiac disease
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu: Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of the Central Government and Director General of the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research N. Kalachelvi said new research is underway to help people eat rice without fear of celiac disease and other health risks. He made this statement at the convocation ceremony of the National Institute of Food Technology, Industrial Development and Management (NIFTDM) in Thanjavur on Friday.
N. Kalaichelvi said that the amount of carbohydrates in rice is very high. Due to this, there is a common belief and some scientific evidence that excessive carbohydrate consumption can increase the risk of diseases like diabetes. He said that to tackle this challenge, new technologies and solutions are being developed by scientists and research institutes to help people consume rice in a safe and healthy manner.
The project is being led by C. Anantharamakrishnan, Director of the National Interdisciplinary Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR – NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram. He told that this research is moving in the direction of a big scientific discovery. He says that the aim of this research is to prepare such rice which is as tasty as normal rice, but has less risk to health.
Under this research, the level of components like carbohydrates and gluten present in rice is being studied. Scientists are using new methods and technologies to identify and produce rice that can be safely eaten by people with celiac disease. Apart from this, this research is also working towards reducing the risk of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
N. Kalaichelvi said rice consumption is very high in India and it is part of the staple diet in most parts of the country. Therefore, it is important to take measures that can meet people’s nutritional needs while protecting them from health risks. He said that this research will also make an important contribution in increasing the food security and nutrition level of India.
Addressing NIFTDM officials and students on this occasion, N. Kalaichelvi said that coordination of research and education is very important for the progress of the country. He inspired the students to pursue careers in the field of science and technology and participate in research.
CSIR-NIIST Director C. Anantharamakrishnan said that his institute is trying to give such results by adopting new biotechnological and food science methods in this research which will bring positive changes in the health and lifestyle of the people.
At present this research is in the initial stage, but scientists believe that in the coming time this discovery will help in making the consumption of rice healthy and safe.
