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Rice is one of the most essential foods in the world. In Asia, in particular, it forms the basis of the diet of billions of people. Rice consumption has also changed significantly in Germany: In the 2023/24 harvest year, everyone in this country consumed an average of 6.8 kilograms of rice, three times as much as in 1950.
The choice in the supermarket is huge: long grain, basmati, jasmine, or whole grain rice. Many people deliberately choose brown rice because it is considered healthier.
However, new research findings from the USA have thrown this perception into disarray, as higher concentrations of arsenic have been found in whole-grain rice.
Brown rice contains high levels of toxic elements
For a long time, brown rice was considered the better choice. After all, the outer husk, which is removed from white rice, contains many vitamins, minerals, and fiber. However, this is also where inorganic arsenic is deposited – a toxic element that the body stores for years.
Scientists at the University of Michigan found that the arsenic content of brown rice is between 72.2 percent and 98.3 percent higher than that of white rice.
“Brown rice and its products, such as brown rice syrup, have a higher concentration of arsenic than foods made from white rice,” the study states.
Cultivation is decisive
Arsenic does not end up in the food by chance. “Rice absorbs almost 10 times more arsenic from the soil than other cereals: a consequence of its production method in flooded rice fields,” explains researcher Felicia Wu.
In some regions, such as the southeast of the USA, historical arsenic from old cotton plantations is also present. Contamination levels are also high in Southeast Asia because the soil and water there are naturally rich in arsenic.
It can be hazardous for children
This can be particularly dangerous for children. Their risk increases particularly sharply if they regularly eat brown rice. The study warns, “Since young children consume significantly more food relative to their body weight than adults, it was found that the consumption of brown rice in young children increases food-related arsenic exposure to a greater extent.”
Although acute poisoning is rare, long-term intake of even small amounts can increase the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Semiconductor causes long-term damage to the heart, lungs, and endocrine system
Arsenic can cause severe damage over time. This includes skin, lung, and bladder cancer, as well as cardiovascular problems and endocrine disruption. Christian Kelly Scott from the University of Michigan describes the situation as follows: “We are talking about chronic exposure over a long time.
There are risks to the cardiovascular system and the endocrine system, and an increased risk of diabetes with long-term exposure.”
This can have long-term consequences for people who regularly eat brown rice, even if the quantities are not acutely toxic.
You can reduce the risk with three tips
Paying attention to a few simple things when shopping and in the kitchen can reduce the risk. Washing rice thoroughly and then cooking it with plenty of water is particularly helpful. A varied diet that doesn’t just rely on rice as a side dish also provides protection.
Farmers are also developing new cultivation methods. Some fields are no longer constantly flooded but alternately irrigated and dried, which reduces the absorption of arsenic in the grain.
Wild rice could be a healthier alternative
An interesting alternative could be wild rice, such as the traditional “manoomin” of the indigenous peoples in the USA. These plants grow naturally in lakes and rivers without constant flooding.
Initial indications suggest wild rice contains less arsenic than conventional long-grain or whole-grain rice. But here too, further research is needed.
One thing is clear: if you pay attention to the origin, processing, and preparation of rice, you can do a lot for your health—and still continue to enjoy it.
- source: focus.de/picture: pixabay.com
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