Restoring the Medicinal Heritage of Navara Red Rice: An Ancient Grain in Kerala
Beneath Kerala’s green paddy fields lies one of its rare and ancient varieties of rice with a medicinally long tradition and heritage—Navara red rice. Also referred to as navara ari in Malayalam, the medicinal grain has been documented in Ayurveda literature for centuries and is being rediscovered today by Indian and foreign health-conscious consumers.
With contemporary lifestyles trending towards natural health and local food culture, ancient cereals such as Navara are being found more and more for their added health benefits. In this blog, the history, importance, and health benefits of navara red rice are briefly discussed, and an online shopping guide on how to purchase Navara ari from original sources is provided.
What is Navara Red Rice
Navara red rice is a unique species of rice that is grown in large quantities mainly in Kerala. Unlike regular species of rice, Navara is deep red due to the presence of large amounts of anthocyanin—naturally occurring antioxidants that are responsible for endowing it with its medicinal quality.
On the other hand, Navara rice is cultivated from its stem, adopting eco-friendly methods, for its healing and culinary properties. One of the few types of rice utilized in Ayurveda medicine, it is a “Shashtika Shali” type of rice, i.e., it grows fast (in 60 days) and possesses immense healing properties.
Ayurvedic significance of navara red rice ( Navara ari )
Navara red rice is highly esteemed in Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine. It is used in sophisticated treatments such as:
Navarakizhi Therapy – An sudation (sweating) treatment in which Navara rice is milk-boiled with medicinal plants and then enveloped in muslin cloth to form poultices.
Postnatal Nutrition – It is world-famous for new mother convalescence and lactation stimulation.
Navara red rice Dietary Therapy – Used as a soothing, restorative breakfast gruel for recuperation from febrile disease, indigestive disturbances, or immune disease.
Panchakarma Rehabilitation Programs – Utilized as the uniting motif in detox treatment programs.
Its uses demonstrate the excellent capacity of Navara to nourish the body from the inside out as its own internal healing processes are aided.
Nutritional Benefits of Navara Red Rice
Navara red rice is both medicinal and nutrient-rich, so it can be used daily. Its high nutrient content has:
Iron & Zinc – Healthier blood & immune system.
Complex Carbohydrates – Digests slowly without a blood sugar peak.
Dietary Fiber – Aids in digestion & satiety.
Antioxidants – Combats inflammation & oxidative stress.
Its low glycemic index also makes it a good food for diabetics, and it contains high fiber, which is helpful in maintaining heart and digestive health.
Who Can Eat Navara red rice?
Even though Navara rice is fit for everyone, it is particularly well-suited for:
Children and elderly people – Due to its texture softness and digestibility, it’s the ideal food for all ages.
People who suffer from digestive disturbances – Easy to digest, used most regularly to help heal the intestinal tract.
Diabetics – The slow release of the carbohydrates maintains blood sugar levels stable.
Recovery from surgery and recovery after giving birth – Helps rebuild the immune system and muscle strength.
Wellness practitioners – Part of an Ayurvedic or organically oriented meal plan.
Current Utilization of Navara Ari in Kitchen Kitchens
While it is customary to take navara ari as medicated porridge, it can be imaginatively incorporated into modern diet. Here are a few delicious ways to do so:
Breakfast Porridge – Boil the Navara ari in milk or coconut milk and garnish with cardamom and jaggery.
Hearty Khichdi – Mix with moong dal, ghee, and light spices.
Ayurvedic Soup – Slow cook gently with vegetables and herbs for warm broth.
Healthy Desserts – Navara rice is used in payasam (Kerala-style pudding) with nuts and dates.
Baby Food – Boiled and mashed, it is ideal for solid food babies.
Soak and wash Navara rice always a few hours in advance of cooking, as it softens the grain and aids absorption of nutrients.
Why Buy Organic Navara Ari Online?
With increasing popularity, most brands sell navara rice online nowadays, but quality and authenticity are highly uncertain. Here’s why you need to opt for certified organic Navara:
Chemical-Free Growth – Preserves medicinal value.
Traditional Agriculture – Conserves the seed’s native heritage and nutrient integrity.
Ecological Sourcing – Supports small farmers and ecologically friendly agriculture.
Low-Processing – Conserve nutrients in the husk and grain.
Purchasing navara red rice from a reputable source ensures you to get rice produced and harvested based on age-old methods, not mass-scale commercial or hybrid varieties.
Megavita – Tradition Respected, Purity Guaranteed
We at Megavita strongly believe that wellness starts from your plate. And that is why we have direct import of our navara red rice from genuine rice farms in Kerala, where generations of farmers cultivate and harvest the grain organically.
Why choose Megavita?
GI-certified Navara rice
Ethically and organically produced
Stringently purity-tested in laboratories
Sealed for retaining freshness and nutrients
Other than rice, Megavita has a vast range of millet products to its name and hence one of the best names in the industry. We are proud to be India’s number one brand of millets with a promise to bring healthy, heritage foods to the contemporary home.
Conclusion
As diets become more and more commercialized and lives become increasingly chaotic, these older grains like navara red rice connect us with the power of nature and tradition. They’re not just food—food is medicine, culture, and tradition bound up in a humble seed.
From its ancient Ayurvedic heritage to its contemporary application in wellness kitchens, Navara ari is the assurance that, indeed, we can have our cake and eat it too with food: tasty and nutritious. To add strength to your immunity, boost the growth of an existing problem of health, or to indulge in good eating without an ounce of apprehension, incorporating Navara rice into your diet is the smart and full-of-contentment option.
Ready to feel the difference?
Buy navara rice online from Megavita and embrace the authentic taste of wellness. With our holistic approach to nutrition and heritage sourcing, we’re proud to be known as the best millet brand in India—because your health deserves nothing less.