Study Finds Brown Rice Has More Arsenic Than White—Is It Still Safe to Eat?

Brown rice is known as nutritious food – but are these entire pills have a dark side of health? A new study published in Risk analysis I found that eating brown rice increases the risk of exposure to arsenic compared to white rice.

Although the study did not find any significant health risks for adult population of arsenic in brown rice, he indicated that the consumption of brown rice in young children greatly increased their exposure to arsenic of food.

In other words, although most adults may not need anxiety about the arsenic content in the stirring container or rice bowl, it may be a source of concern for parents and caregivers at children under the age of five.

However, experts emphasize that consuming a diverse and balanced diet can reduce this anxiety (both children and adults). “The quality of the diet through diversity is the key to reducing the effects of all heavy metals, including arsenic”, ” Jolly Jones, PhD, central nervous systemThe distinguished researcher and professor Emerita at St. Catherine University said, health.

Below is a closer look at the reason that brown rice tends to contain arsenic more than white rice, and whether it is worth making any changes to your eating habits.

According to the author of the study Christian Scott, PhDPost -PhD researcher in the Department of Food and Human Nutrition Sciences at Michigan State University, Risk analysis Research is part of a continuous effort to make food supply in the United States safer.

“This study is in conversation with the Food and Drug Administration Closer And he told health.

However, the study is not the first to determine higher levels of arsenic in brown rice of white. In fact, it was clear for many years that arsenic accumulates more in the outer bran. Since brown rice retains the bran, while white rice does not, it naturally harbor more arsenic.

Scott research was built on this knowledge by enhancing the results of previous studies and providing comprehensive trends. He conducted an intense review of the previous research literature, then exposure to arsenic of brown rice against white rice, based on the amount of what all Americans eat on average. This data provided a comparison side by side, and revealed that the consumption of brown rice led to higher levels of arsenic (relative to body weight) of white rice.

Scott also divided these data into age ranges. It is worth noting that children under the age of 5 were the highest consumers of rice per unit of body weight. This is not because young children eat a lot of rice, but because they consume more food for the weight of the body more than adults.

Another key discovery: The United States ceded had lower concentrations of arsenic than the global offer. Although the reasons for this are completely unclear, Scott said that it may be due to the decrease in the levels of arsenic in soil, water and processing practices that affect the content of arsenic.

Although this research may seem worrying, there is good news for rice lovers. The study concluded that for most people, arsenic in brown rice is “limited anxiety”. Scott emphasized: “The middle -minimal America has health risks to consuming natural amounts of rice,” Scott stressed.

Although the high levels of arsenic are already toxic, some arsenic in the diet is inevitable – and brown rice is just one reason among many. “Avoid arsenic will make getting a healthy diet impossible because vegetables, fruits and juices provide more than 40 % of the dietary arsenic,” said Jones.

You can also feel comfortable in the fact that arsenic poisoning of food is not very common, according to Taylor diedSenior Director of Food Consulting at NSF. “Although some foods, such as rice, may contain arsenic, these levels are usually low and regulated,” he said.

However, parents and care providers may want to take some additional reserves for children.

Jones recommends some strategies to keep children exposure to low arsenic, including alternating grains based on rice and other foods with non -automatic foods, avoiding local infants formulas with brown rice syrup, or searching for cultivated rice in California or other sites that the dramatic irrigation maintains a minimum.

The high content of the arsenic from Rice Brown does not negate his general health. Compared to white rice, it contains more fiber, magnesium, potassium, iron and some B. As a complete pill, it is a minimal option.

To get the maximum health benefits, Jones recommends adhering to the American food and drug guidance “to make half of the grains”. She said that the meals that follow this guideline principle provide a wide range of plant nutrients from those that focus on any one pill.

She added: “Making half of the grains also works to improve essential minerals while reducing the consumption of arsenic or other heavy metals.”

Taylor said that if you are worried about arsenic in brown rice, try to rinse it well before cooking. Or cook it in larger quantities of water – to 6 to 10 parts of the water to the rice. (Just note that this will also reduce the amount of some major vitamins.)

In general, Jones stresses the importance of eating brown rice in moderation as part of a wider healthy diet. “This provides the most powerful defense of the body,” she said.