Arsenic in brown rice: do the benefits outweigh the risks? Published online 2023 Jul 14

[Goonch]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10375490/


"Abstract

Brown rice has been advocated for as a healthier alternative to white rice. However, the concentration of arsenic and other pesticide contaminants is greater in brown rice than in white. The potential health risks and benefits of consuming more brown rice than white rice remain unclear; thus, mainstream nutritional messaging should not advocate for brown rice over white rice. This mini-review aims to summarize the most salient concepts related to dietary arsenic exposure with emphasis on more recent findings and provide consumers with evidence of both risks and benefits of consuming more brown rice than white rice. Despite risk-benefit assessments being a challenging new frontier in nutrition, researchers should pursue an assessment to validate findings and solidify evidence. In the interim, consumers should be cognizant that the dose of arsenic exposure determines its toxicity, and brown rice contains a greater concentration of arsenic than white rice..............."

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*Conclusion

There is a clear lack of research focusing on human consumption of brown rice that includes a risk-benefit approach. The fact that brown rice contains more arsenic than white rice cannot be denied, and the human health risks associated with dietary arsenic exposure are well-established. Health effects of arsenic exposure depend on various factors, such as the type of arsenic (organic or inorganic), the level of exposure, and the age of the person exposed to the arsenic. Arsenic exposure has been associated with cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity. Despite risk-benefit assessment of foods being a challenging new frontier in food safety research, future studies should include an assessment to validate findings and solidify evidence. In the interim, consumers should be cognizant that the dose of arsenic exposure determines its toxicity, and brown rice contains a greater concentration of arsenic than white rice."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10375490/ WHOLE ARTICLE

[Goonch]

1. How to reduce arsenic in rice, and why it matters

https://health.osu.edu/wellness/exercise-and-nutrition/how-to-reduce-arsenic-in-rice

[hlthe2b]

2. There is tremendous variation in the amount of naturally occurring arsenic in rice grown in areas

throughout the world. Texas has some of the highest levels, California intermediate, and surprisingly enough given neighboring Bangladesh's notorious problems with naturally occurring arsenic impacting water supplies, India-grown Basmati has some of the lowest levels. On this, doing one's homework to decide about purchasing and the source matters.

[mitch96]

4. Agree about South Asia brown rice and it's low arsnic levels. What I HAVE found is not of

bugs... I opened a bag and these ⅛ to ¼ inch bugs flew out and little black critters walking around in there. What to do, what to do.. The bugs are protein, rhght?
BTW I really like brown rice. It's chewy..

m

[hlthe2b]

5. Brown rice is my favorite--nutty and chewy. And I have a Zojurushi rice maker that germinates it

(warming and holding at relatively low temps for several hours before cooking) to increase the amount of GABA in it. (GABA is a naturally occurring neurochemical known for having beneficial effects on BP, blood sugar, reducing insomnia and increasing general "calm"... )

So good for the Fiber and minerals, good for the GABA, but hopefully low in the harmful arsenic.

[mitch96]

10. Neat, do you have a special setting or just keep it on the warm cycle...nt

[hlthe2b]

11. It is a special auto setting on my particular rice maker. But if you google it, they will tell you

how to do it manually.

[Mosby]

3. There is only 1-2 grams of fiber in a serving of brown rice.

It's not really a fiber rich food like people claim. Not a lot different then whole wheat bread. They're both just super starchy foods.

[hlthe2b]

6. I think that is because it lends naturally to combining with veggies and beans. Combined can have

and supply substantial fiber as well as vitamins and minerals (and protein) ... by comparison white rice supplies essentially nothing other than carbohydrates.

[doc03]

7. There will be another study that says brown rice is better, eggs, butter

and coffee used to kill us.

[Warpy]

8. I get most of my arsenic out of the tap water here

which comes from an aquifer a mile down. Even though I filter it, I'm sure some comes through the filter. Yum, arsenic.

1970s food faddists who ate large amounts of brown rice three times a day over a long period of time likely absorbed a problematic amount of arsenic. The jury is still out on that. No one has followed them.

People who run into trouble are the poorest, who are lucky to manage a big bowl of rice as their daily food, bits of vegetable or preserved fish being rare treats. They run into serious vitamin deficiency called beriberi, correctable by eating unpolished rice.

People in the west can afford a diet rich in B vitamins, so they don't need to eat whole grains to get them. Whole grains do have another set of benefits, they aid in carbohydrate and fat metabolism and help colon health by adding bulk.

Pollan's got the best nutritional advice: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." You can't go far wrong doing that.

[stopdiggin]

9. *Conclusion

"There is a clear lack of research focusing on human consumption of brown rice that includes a risk-benefit approach."

And we will again fail to provide one here ..