Rhian Stephensonnutritionist and wellness company founder Artahsays that rice berries are actually more nutritious than your usual long-grain brown rice. “Riceberry is known for its antioxidant and phytonutrient content, particularly anthocyanins, which are beneficial for cognitive, cardiovascular and metabolic health,” she explains. “It has a rich purple color and is rich in several beneficial compounds like polyphenols and catechins (a special type of antioxidant found in green tea); much higher than the levels found in brown rice. It is also rich in B vitamins, particularly folate. Although it is richer in phytonutrients (than brown rice), its fiber profile is generally the same.

If you have an obsessive personality like me, you might be tempted to incorporate rice berries into every meal from now on. Rice berries for breakfast! Riceberry for lunch! Riceberry for, sort of, dessert? But don’t go completely overboard. Rice is quite expensive compared to other types, and not very easy to get (the fact that my local Thai takeaways do it seems like a small miracle). But still, if you find a reliable online retailer, it can be a great alternative to “less nutrient-dense foods like white pasta, white rice, white bread,” says Stephenson. And you don’t always have to opt for riceberry if you’re looking for similar benefits. “You can also opt for black rice, red rice, and wild rice to mix them together and get similar phytonutrients (compounds found in plants that may have health benefits in humans),” adds Stephenson. And when you finally get tired of rice? “You can also use black beans to get a healthy dose of beneficial flavonoids.”

So there you go. A way to make those rice dishes a little more interesting, while still being happy with the fact that your curry dinner is super healthy, actually. Plus, it’s pretty, which always helps, right?