We now know that on of the ways to start eating healthy and lose weight is to limit the amount of sucrose in the diet, as many sucrose-based products are highly refined and are best used in moderation. Enter Brown Rice syrup. Brown rice syrup (BRS) (and barley malt for that matter) is composed of maltose, has a mild taste and is about half as sweet as regular refined white sugar. It is great for diabetics and for macrobiotic diets and those looking for sweeteners that won't spike blood sugar levels the way white sugar can.
However in contrast with regular sugar, the glucose in Brown Rice Syrup is absorbed easily into our system, leaving less for fat accumulation which means faster weight loss. This happens because unlike simple sugars such as monosaccharide's and disaccharides, Brown Rice Syrup is a polysaccharide or a complex sugar that dissolves easily in the bloodstream. Moreover, the maltose and complex carbohydrates components of this kind of syrup takes longer to digest thus maintaining the energy flow for longer time periods. So, apart from possibilities of controlling the blood-sugar levels, organic Brown Rice Syrup may have a healthy effect on your cholesterol. Brown rice syrup is derived by culturing rice with enzymes and the final product is roughly 50% soluble complex carbohydrates, 45% maltose, and 3% glucose.
BRS can be used as a sweetening agent to sauces, cereals, and can be used in recipes for cooking or baking and is good as a topping for pancakes and waffles in place of pancake syrup. It is made by adding enzymes to cooked rice, either white or brown. It can be stored at room temperature or for longer storage in the refrigerator. It doesn't crystallize the way honey can but in very humid areas mold can grow on the surface, therefore for longer storage it can be kept in the refrigerator. Brown rice syrups can be used in place of white sugar in recipes. To substitute rice syrup for regular sugar in recipes, for every 1 cup of sugar use 1 1/4 cups of rice syrup and decrease the liquid by 1/4 cup. Enjoy!