Organic Curried Rice & Lentils - 398ml

EDEN Organic Curried Rice & Lentils are Lundberg organic short grain brown rice and USA small farm organically grown green lentils prepared at Eden's certified organic cannery. Lentils are soaked overnight, blanched, combined with the brown rice and seasoned with an Eden selected blend of 100% organic curry spices. Thoroughly cooked with purified water and a bit of EDEN Sea Salt. With EDEN Organic Curried Rice & Lentils in your pantry it is easy to make 'curry in a hurry' and wholesome meals in minutes. Just heat, stir, and serve. Serve with warm pita bread, salad, and a cup of spicy EDEN Organic Chai for an authentic Indian meal. For quick soups and stews simply add vegetables, water or soup stock, adjust the seasoning and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Use any EDEN Rice & Beans to make Burgers, directions in the recipe section.

EDEN Organic Rice & Beans are packed in steel cans coated with a baked on oleoresinous c-enamel that does not contain the endocrine disrupter chemical, bisphenol-A (BPA). Oleoresin is a natural mixture of an oil and a resin extracted from various plants, such as pine or balsam fir. These cans cost 14% more than the industry standard cans that do contain BPA. The can maker, Ball Corporation, tells us that Eden is the only U.S. food maker to date to use these BPA free cans and we have been since April 1999.

Dishes classified as curry in America are rarely, if ever, called curry in their native countries. Curry, derived from the Tamil word 'kari', is a English term meaning stew and was in the English vocabulary long before British traders arrived in India and other Asian countries. The word curry was simply used to describe any dish that looked like stew. On the other hand the word 'kari' describes many kinds of dishes in southern India made with vegetables, meat, fish, or beans that are commonly served with rice. Today the term curry is broadly used in referring to any sauce based, spicy dish in south Asian cuisine, especially the yellow sauces using lots of turmeric. The seasonings used to make what we call curry vary depending on the local cuisine. Spicy curry sauces and gravies are found throughout India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand and other south Asian countries. Many of the same spices are found in the Middle East and Northern Africa, although less spicy than Indian cuisine.

FDA added brown rice to its list of Heart Healthy whole grains in May 2008; "Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers." The science behind this health claim clearly shows the benefits of whole grain are not from single nutrient components. EDEN Organic Curried Rice & Lentils are low fat, saturated fat and cholesterol free. They are rich in folate (vitamin B9) with 40% DV (daily value) and a good source of iron, magnesium, and zinc.

Scientists at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University say, "Whole grains help regulate blood sugar by slowing down the conversion of complex carbohydrates into sugar. In fact, low-glycemic index foods such as whole grains reduce hunger and can help to control weight." Scientists at the Agriculture Research Service completed a study of more than 2,000 people concluding, "at least three or more servings of whole grain foods everyday could reduce the chances of developing metabolic syndrome - a condition marked by a combination of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, poor blood sugar control, low HDL 'good' cholesterol and high blood fats."

Studies show beans contain a wealth of antioxidants similar to those in fruits and berries. "Beans are really loaded with antioxidant compounds," said Clifford Beninger, Ph.D., an environmental biologist and former researcher for the USDA's Bean Research Unit. "We didn't know how potent they were until now. In general darker colored seed coats were associated with higher levels of flavonoids, and therefore higher antioxidant activity." Researchers tested the antioxidant activity of flavonoids found in 12 common varieties of dry beans. They found one class of compounds in particular, anthocyanins, were the most active antioxidants in beans. These findings add antioxidant activity to a growing list of healthy compounds found in beans and legumes. The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

"Beans are probably the best human plant food there is," Dr. George L. Hosfield, the leading researcher and a plant breeder at Michigan State University, told Reuters Health. He explained that beans are full of protein and fiber and low in fat. They also contain important vitamins and minerals such as folic acid, iron, potassium, and zinc. "With the additional bonus of their antioxidants, you have almost the perfect food," he said. Beans are loaded with soluble fiber that helps to lower blood cholesterol levels.

Beans are an important source of two essential amino acids not found in cereals, lysine and threonine. In turn, whole grains complement beans and together deliver complete protein. Enjoying a variety of beans with whole grain is a good step toward healthy living.