There seems to have been about a hundred varieties of rice but only about 20 types are said to be existing. Navara is one of the 20.The rice is often powdered and then mixed with milk and taken in the form of a cereal.Navara also has religious significance and is sometimes used in temples for ceremonies. Navara has an important place in the Ayurvedic system of treatment and is used, alone or in combination with other herbs to treat many diseases.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS :

Good weaning food for infants, particularly those with low weight. Broth made by adding Navara rice to meat is recommended to pregnant women as it increases the weight of the foetus. Cooked with milk and herbs, it can treat internal wounds. Navara rice bran oil is used for a wide range of aches and painful conditions like the cervical spondylosis, low back ache, paralysis, rheumatoid arthritis. Ayurvedic doctors effectively use Navara rice paste, lepanam, to treat psoriasis. The paste is also an excellent remedy for skin lesions. Rice gruel made of Navara is considered beneficial in preventing various diseases and is also considered a safe food for diabetics. Navara is used in Navarakizhi, a specialty treatment from Keralas traditional medicine used for curing neuromuscular disorders.