Getting To Know With Sorghum, A Rice Substitute With Many Benefits

Sorghum Food Substitute for Rice (iStockphoto)

JAKARTA - Although not everyone is familiar with sorghum, this grain has been around for centuries. Sorghum belongs to the grass family Poaceae. They are small, round, and usually white or pale yellow in color. Although there are several varieties that are red, brown, black, or purple.

Sorghum is a plant that belongs to the Gramineae tribe, has a stem height of up to 6 meters. The flowers are panicles, the fruits are round or almost round grains, and they are smaller than corn kernels.

Sorghum is the fifth most produced food crop in the world, according to data from the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, Thursday, July 21. Sorghum seeds are rich in natural nutrients. Apart from being a food ingredient, sorghum can also be used as animal feed, and bioethanol or a natural fuel source.

In Indonesia, sorghum has long been known by farmers, especially in Java, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). In Java, sorghum is known as Cantel, often planted by farmers as an intercrop or intercropping with other crops. The shape of the tree itself resembles corn with small round seeds. The plains of Africa are believed to be the origin of this plant.

Sorghum Seeds(iStockphoto)

Compared to rice alias rice, sorghum is claimed to be far superior in terms of nutritional value. Data from Healthline, notes that sorghum contains a variety of nutrients, including B vitamins, which play an important role in metabolism, nerve cell development, and healthy hair and skin. Sorghum is also a source of magnesium, a mineral that functions to form bones, maintaining heart health. And more than 600 biochemical reactions in your body, such as energy production and protein metabolism.

In addition, sorghum contains antioxidants such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins. Eating these antioxidant-rich foods can lower oxidative stress and inflammation in your body.

What's more, half a cup of sorghum provides more than 7 grams of fiber, which is about 25 percent of the recommended daily fiber intake. Dietary fiber helps regulate weight, lower cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar levels, and prevent constipation.

Not only that, sorghum is a good source of vegetable protein. In fact, this plant provides as much protein as quinoa, a cereal grain known for its high protein content.

Sorghum is one of the plants whose planting location is suitable for Indonesia's land conditions. The Indonesia.go.id page states, this plant can grow in dry areas and lack nutrients. In fact, sorghum can survive in soils with high salt content, including on the coast.

Sorghum tolerance to drought is due to the presence of silica deposits in the endodermis of sorghum roots, which functions to prevent root damage in drought conditions. Sorghum is also efficient in the use of water because it is supported by a fine sorghum root system and is located rather deep, so that it is able to absorb water quite intensively.