(Part 1 of 3 part series on the usage of Rice and what we need to be cautious of)
All rice is gluten-free and comes in different grains; short with the most starch then medium and finally long grain with the less starch.
UNENRICHED POLISHED WHITE RICE
It’s MISSING THE HULL which is the hard protective coating of the rice; it is MISSING THE BRAN which is the outer layer, which is removed through a mechanical process and MISSING THE GERM which is the nutrient-rich core. Because this core is missing many vitamins and minerals are missing in white rice. As a result, another name is refined unenriched white rice.
What does POLISHED UNENRICHED WHITE RICE contain?
It CONTAINS ONLY THE ENDOSPERM thus it makes it a source of empty carbohydrates. The GI content is very high at 64 which means that carbohydrates are converted quickly into blood sugar. Alternative doctors advise people with hypoglycemia and diabetes not to eat it because of the carbs. To extend its ability to remain on the grocery’s shelf for long periods of time and to prevent spoilage it is highly processed. After milling under a tarpaulin the stacks of rice and storage fabric is FUMIGATED WITH PHOSPHINE GAS (“extremely dangerous gas, a little exposure causes dizziness, loose bowels, cough, cerebral pain, and chest tightness, etc. Greater exposure may result in convulsions, coma, damage to the kidney and liver and irregular heartbeat. I pity the poor workers that apply this stuff. Since it kills the insects in the rice some of this chemical most remain in the rice.) AND CARBON-DIOXIDE.
PLEASE NOTE! In the USA and many other countries, you will find something called ENRICHED POLISHED WHITE RICE. This means that iron, folic acid, niacin, thiamin and other B vitamins have been added back into the rice after its processing. It is the synthetic vitamins that are added back not the natural ones that are found in the rice normally and this makes a difference in how the digestive system can handle it. To top it off not everything is added back. Much is still left out.
BROWN RICE
It‘s MISSING ONLY THE HULL which is the hard protective coating of the rice.
What does BROWN RICE contain: IT HAS THE BRAN. Bran contains FIBER, LIPIDS, NUTRIENTS, ANTIOXIDANTS, and etc. This FIBER according to the HSPH helps keep cholesterol levels down, moves waste through the digestive tract, and may help prevent the formation of blood clots. The LIPIDS In the fibres include unsaturated fatty acids: oleic, linoleic and alpha-linoleic acids; the saturated fatty acids are: palmitic and stearic acids, as well as tocopherols (Vitamin E), policosanolsre is known to reduce serum LDL (bad)cholesterol levels, saponins and phytosterols. The NUTRIENTS are iron, zinc, and vitamin A (Vitamin A deficiency results in xerophthalmia, night blindness and eventually full blindness and is a major health issue in preschoolers in over a hundred developing nations). The ANTIOXIDANTS are released from the bran fibre when bran undergoes normal digestion by the gut enzymes. One antioxidant is phytic acid which is now known to possess antitumor effects, prevent coronary heart disease, and have potent antioxidant activity as well as immune-stimulating effects. Another is Ferulic acid: It may protect against various chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular (heart) disease.
IT HAS THE GERM that contains healthy fats.
IT HAS THE ENDOSPERM which is a starch that supports the growth of many beneficial intestinal microbes. The GI is 55.
BROWN RICE ALSO HAS essential amino acids, traces of sodium and ash. It contains lignans: a plant compound that, helps keep blood pressure down, reduces the fat content in the blood and reduces stiffness in the arterials. Brown rice studies have shown that it helps maintain healthy body weight and weight loss. There’s no trans-fat or cholesterol.
A Comparison Between Polished Refined White Rice, Polished Enriched White Rice And Brown Rice. This Is Only A Summary Based On A Chart I Read.
Brown rice has fewer calories of the three, .3 fewer grams of protein than the others has the lowest grams of carbs and the highest grams of fat. It doubles the grams of fibre compared to the three. It has 2 ½ times the amount of manganese and 6 times more magnesium then the others, only 1% more selenium and copper than the others, slightly more zinc and phosphorus and only 1% less B6. Enriched white rice has more folate, more B1 and more iron. Both unenriched and enriched have more B3 (These enrichments may not be natural and therefore may lack the accompanying natural elements that come along with the nutrients in nature) and the same amount for fat, protein, manganese, selenium, magnesium, zinc, copper phosphorus, B6 and niacin.
WHITE RICE CONSUMPTION AND YOUR HEALTH
The Asian adult population has a higher risk of metabolic syndrome as a result of eating a large amount of WHITE RICE. What does metabolic syndrome refer to it is a title given to certain risk factors that may increase certain health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. These risk factors include high blood pressure, high triglycerides levels, a large waistline, low levels of good HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides levels and high blood sugar fasting levels. The studies have indicated that white rice contributes to diabetes.
WHAT IS ARSENIC AND MERCURY DOING IN RICE-
One: Arsenic is part of the earth’s crust and comes from volcanic activity. It’s called: organic arsenic. This source is less harmful than the inorganic, though still too much isn’t good either. Where is this found: in seafood, fruit, and vegetables.
Two: Inorganic arsenic is created by factories through mining and smelting of base metals, waste incineration, car traffic, and fuel combustion (e.g. waste and low-grade brown coal are releasing an abundance of arsenic into the atmosphere.) This has caused drinking water in many countries to have high concentrations of arsenic and this can cause cancer. Some of these countries are Bangladesh, China, West Bengal India, parts of Argentina, Australia, Taiwan, USA, Japan, Mexico, and Thailand. Inorganic arsenic does negatively affect workers in the workplace through inhalation and through the skin. Avoid rice grown near heavily polluted industrial or mining areas. Inorganic arsenic is mainly found in meats, poultry, dairy products and cereal.
Three: In the USA and elsewhere where the land has been polluted by inorganic arsenic pesticides and fertilizers. This was stopped in 1993 in the USA. Organic arsenical pesticides were banned by the USA in 2013. Arsenic has lasting effects on the environment. They have leached into the soil and water supplies. Large tracts of agricultural land have been affected.
All rice has an affinity to pull out arsenic, mercury, etc. and from the land more so than other crops. If the soil is high in arsenic or mercury then the rice because it absorbs so much water will pick up the arsenic and mercury also. Too much arsenic can increase your chance of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and it affects nerves and brain function. So rice should not be a staple (your main food), especially for children because they are still growing.
Article two continues Arsenic and mercury in rice.