What is the Point of Producing a Rice That is Naturally Higher in Protein?

That question was posed to me last summer at a food convention by an experienced rice importer. He had an impressive business bringing red, black, and Forbidden rice to the United States - however, he couldn't see the point of offering a rice naturally higher in protein, like Cahokia. If you aren’t sure what the point is yet either, let’s talk about who we see as the main beneficiaries.

A major group that can benefit from consuming high protein grains is vegetarians. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, chances are you’ve heard the question, “How do you get enough protein in your diet?” more than a few times. When searching for protein-rich meat alternatives, rice might not normally come to mind. While a serving of white rice may contain as little as 3 grams of protein, each serving of Brown or White Cahokia Rice contains 5 grams. That's as much as serving of cooked spinach!

Fitness-conscious eaters may already be including brown rice in their diet as both a healthy and affordable whole grain. The amino acids found in protein act as a building blocks for increasing muscle, repairing cellular damage, and maintaining energy levels. Cahokia Rice provides active individuals with a new way to add an extra boost of protein to a dietary staple.

It should come as no surprise that these protein building blocks are equally essential for a child’s developing mind and body. Rice cereal is often fed to children as their first solid food because it is low in allergens, and it was with this in mind that Cahokia initially procured the rights to grow our specific variety of protein-rich rice from Louisiana State University - with the intention of eventually producing a rice-based baby food. Studies have indicated that extra protein at an early age can help child development. We at Cahokia, as both farmers and parents, can offer Cahokia Rice to fellow parents who would like to feed their children something simple, nutritious, and tasty.

Another dietary trend that has soared upwards in the past decade is cutting out foods containing gluten. Unfortunately for those who follow a gluten-free diet, gluten-free products and dishes are not often high in protein. Luckily for us - and our gluten-free customers - the rice plant cannot manufacture the gluten protein, so all rice is naturally gluten-free. In addition to the whole grains that we offer, we hope to develop a high protein rice flour, so that you can enjoy Cahokia’s great taste and nutritional value in even more of your favorite eats.