Is rice healthy? Is rice harmful? Is rice harmful? |

In this article you will learn, among others:

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• Is there arsenic in rice?

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• Are there heavy metals in food?

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• Is rice harmful?

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• Is rice healthy?

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• How to reduce arsenic in rice?

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• How much rice can you eat per week?

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• What to replace rice?

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Is there arsenic in rice?

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We have known about the presence of arsenic in rice for a long time. However, no one really bothered about it, commenting, “You have to eat something after all!” Of course you have to, but you should also be aware that in the times in which we live when we choose food, we must first of all be vigilant. 

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Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium and lead are present in water and soil. In some places, their concentration is increased, which is associated with industrial and agricultural pollution. id = »h24 ″ id =» h25 ″> Scientists have long known that people who drink water contaminated with arsenic have a higher risk of developing lung, skin and bladder cancer as well as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes and skin lesions. However, it turns out that we may be more exposed to arsenic from food than from water. In 2010, scientists from the US Environmental Protection Agency conducted a study of arsenic levels in food and water. It has been calculated that the average person can ingest twice as much inorganic arsenic from food than from water. Moreover, infants and children were even more likely to develop arsenic than adults due to their lower body weight. 

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Are there heavy metals in food?

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For decades, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been monitoring the level of heavy metals in food production. Arsenic levels are constant outperformed for rice and foods made from rice flour, bran and rice-based sweeteners. High concentration of arsenic from time by the time they also have carrots, mushrooms, peanuts, seaweed, juices fruit and wine. Arsenic can also be found in fish, seafood and even chickens.

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Opinions issued by the FDA are also recognized outside the United States.

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Is rice harmful?

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By far the most rice is eaten by Asian, Latin American, vegetarian and people on a gluten-free diet. They convince people to rice us doctors, nutritionists and the media. Rice is healthy indeed. AND the brown one, full of fiber, vitamins and ingredients mineral, recommended e.g. for people on a slimming diet, and the white one, gentle, e.g. for people on an easily digestible diet, ideal for the sensitive stomachs of infants and young children. But what about this arsenic? One is sure, in rice it is and is very harmful in itself. Worse, not we really know how much of it is harmful, so we can suspect that any …

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While all plants can absorb small amounts of arsenic, rice, due to its physiology and growing conditions, has the ability to accumulate 10 times as much arsenic. In addition, some rice species are among the few crops that can grow in heavily contaminated soil.

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Is rice healthy?

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A 2011 study found that pregnant women who ate half a cup of rice id = »h24 ″ id =» h25 ″> had as much arsenic in their urine as if they drank a liter of water contaminated with the maximum allowable amount of arsenic (10 ppb). This spurred scientists to do more research. Already in 2012, the independent, respected research organization Consumer Reports showed that arsenic in a large amount (100 ppb) was found in rice, rice flour, crackers, pasta and breakfast cereals. Similar results were obtained by the FDA after testing more than 1300 rice-based food samples. At the same time, however, the organization felt that the amounts were too low to affect health. However, to reduce the risk of arsenic consumption, the FDA recommended eating a varied diet.

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But that was not over, in July last year, the joint committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization and WHO adopted a new standard for acceptable levels of arsenic in rice: recommends eating no more than 200 ppb of arsenic in white rice and no more than 400 ppb of arsenic in brown riceid = »h24 ″ id =» h25 ″>. id = »h24 ″ id =» h25 ″> The European Food Safety Authority has given an even stricter limit – 100 ppb of arsenic in food sold to babies and children.id = »h24 ″ id =» h25 ″>

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How to reduce arsenic in rice?id=»h24″ id=»h25″>

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It’s good to know about the permissible concentrations of arsenic, but in practice it will not be of much use. Here, a lot has to happen in matters beyond our control, such as the prohibition of growing rice in contaminated soil, or thorough examination of ready-made food. What can we do then in our homes immediately?

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1. Check the origin of the rice.id=»h24″ id=»h25″>Arsenic concentrations in rice vary depending on the variety and region where it is grown. White rice, especially basmati and jasmine rice, often have lower arsenic concentrations than brown rice, because this element is largely accumulated in the bran. You can also find information that the varieties of rice cultivated, for example, in California, have a lower arsenic content than those from other parts of the world.

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2. Limit your consumption of rice.id=»h24″ id=»h25″>Consumer Reports, the research organization I wrote about earlier, suggested that adults should not eat more than 1-3 (children less than 2) servings of rice or rice-based food per week. The table below shows the approximate consumption limits.

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3. Rinsing the rice and cooking it properly.id=»h24″ id=»h25″>Rinse the rice before cooking can reduce the arsenic content to some extent. Some Research indicates that the amount of arsenic in rice can be reduced by up to 40 in this way percent if it is boiled in a large amount of water. Of course, remove excess water.

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4. Changing your mind about baby food.id=»h24″ id=»h25″>

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There is a lot of talk about the fact that rice is not perfect at all, as it has been until now we thought a product for babies. The more so that also in rice-based products intended for them, a high presence of arsenic is confirmed. For food compaction, if there is a need, it is advisable to use oats at present. 

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How much rice can you eat per week?

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The rice thing is not easy. First of all, while it is known that arsenic is present in rice and it is certainly harmful, no one can say with full responsibility how much of this rice we should eat per week (it depends on which region the rice comes from and on what soil it was grown). Scientific research that determines the arsenic content of rice creates a dilemma for consumers, food producers and regulators through discrepancies in the results. 

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What kind of rice substitute?

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There is one more problem: what will we replace the rice with? If it will be groats, quinoa, legumes, or wholemeal pasta, that’s great. However, the question is whether someone will not think of replacing rice with, for example, French fries, which will certainly not be good for health. The pollution of the environment and the food quality of our time leaves much to be desired. Many people, including myself, are probably wondering if anything is 100 percent. secure. The best solution to this situation is varied food and avoiding monotony. We don’t have to, or even shouldn’t, eat rice 7 times a week. We can add various groats, pseudo cereals to meals, e.g. quinoa, boiled potatoes, legumes or pasta.

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What do you substitute for rice? Do you choose groats or rice more often? Do you eat rice or potatoes more often? 

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