Is rice a nutritious food? White rice typically undergoes processing, so manufacturers enrich it with added nutrients. The hull is missing, but so is the bran and germ. Brown rice, on the other hand, has the hull removed. White rice tends to have a low fiber content, which may cause digestive issues. All that said, many communities around the world eat white rice on a daily basis.

Rice is available in many varieties with different colors, grain lengths, flavors, and textures. That’s ringht, folks, white rice isn’t the only option available! The nutritional quality also varies depending on the type of rice, milling process, agricultural environment, and processing. For example, some varieties have a higher protein and fiber content and exhibit a low glycemic index. Other types of rice that undergo more processing may have a lower fiber, vitamin, and mineral content, which can increase the glycemic index. 

Some types of rice are more suitable for certain dishes, such as sushi rice or jasmine rice for fried rice. If you want rice that exhibits a more nutritionally diverse profile, you may want to avoid white rice and opt for other colors and varieties. Continue reading to learn more about them. 

Black Rice

Rich in antioxidant compounds, specifically anthocyanins, which give the rice its signature purple-black hue. According to researchers, including a lot of anthocyanins in the diet can improve blood glucose and lipid levels, in addition to lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. Nutritional data states that half a cup of cooked black rice provides 3.3 grams (g) of protein, 17.2 g of carbs, 82 calories, and 1.5 g of fiber. It also contains B vitamins, selenium, zinc, and magnesium. Choose lightly milled or whole black rice varieties because milling can decrease the nutritional content. 

Purple Rice

Different from black rice, purple rice is also a rich source of anthocyanin antioxidants. Unlike black rice, purple rice has a sweeter flavor. Half a cup of cooked purple rice contains 90 calories, 19 g of carbs, 2 g of protein, and 1 g of fiber. A small study found that bread made with purple rice did not increase blood sugar levels as much as bread made with white rice. There was, however, no significant difference between white bread and bread made with purple rice. More research is still necessary to understand purple rice’s effect on blood sugar. 

Wild Rice

Did you know that wild rice is actually the seed of an aquatic grass? It has a higher protein and lower fat content compared to other rice varieties, with half a cup of cooked wild rice providing 83 calories, 17.5 g of carbs, 3.3 g of protein, and 1.5 g of fiber. Wild rice also contains a higher resistant starch content than both white and red rice. One study found that digestive starch increased glucose levels more than resistant starch. Researchers state that that is because resistant starch isn’t as digestible, making it more suitable for blood sugar regulation. 

Brown Rice

Being that brown rice is a whole grain, it does create a more balanced meal for blood sugar management. In fact, brown rice has a lower glycemic index than other rice varieties, but it does contain more arsenic than white rice. The outer layer of the grain contains arsenic, which is removed during the milling process to make white rice. This toxic metal only causes acute toxicity in high doses. Long-term exposure of arsenic through diet, though, can pose potential health risks, such as an increased risk of diabetes. A half cup of cooked brown rice offers 109 calories, 23 g of carbs, 2.3 g of protein, and 1.8 g of fiber. 

Red Rice

This type of rice is commonly eaten in southern France, Bhutan, and Thailand. It has a similar nutty flavor and aroma to basmati rice, but red rice has anthocyanins, which is what gives red rice its color. The anthocyanin content isn’t as prevalent in red rice as it is in purple or black rice, which explains the lighter color. Half a cup of cooked red rice contains 92 calories, 19 g of carbs, 2.1 g of protein, and less than 1 g of fiber.

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Rice has been around for centuries. From China and Indonesia, to Portugal and Holland, rice is the staple component of hundreds of different dishes around the world, and it comes in many different types, such as brown, white, jasmine, and basmati. Many of us consume rice on an almost daily basis. Before you ask for another serving of it, however, you may want to know what truly lies behind rice and its many forms, including its “healthier” option, brown rice.

The biggest problem that has been found with rice is that it contains arsenic. Arsenic is a toxic trace element that can be found naturally in two categories: the organic arsenic, which is mainly found in plant and animal tissues, and the more toxic inorganic arsenic, found in rocks and soil or dissolved in water, which can lead to various types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Rice accumulates more arsenic than other food crops. In fact, it is the single biggest food source of inorganic arsenic, but what’s even worse is that brown rice, the rice that we have thought to be the healthier option, contains higher amounts of arsenic because it has not been stripped of the bran and husk. And when you realize that arsenic is also found in contaminated drinking water, you may want to start looking for other options.

If you still want to consume rice, opt for aromatic rice, such as basmati or jasmine since they have roughly one-third less inorganic arsenic than other brown rice. It is recommended to switch up the types of grains you consume, however. Alkaline grains are the best substitution for any rice variety. You can determine that a grain is alkaline because, unlike rice, it contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, causing the grain to bounce in boiling water. Below are some examples:

Wild Rice

May help to increase muscle mass, prevent cancer, aid in digestion, and improve heart function.

Amaranth

It is gluten-free, can help support bone health, lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and is a good source of nutrients for pregnant women.

Quinoa

Although this is technically not a grain, you should opt for quinoa because it is high in magnesium, protein, fiber, iron, potassium and various antioxidants.

Buckwheat

It provides highly digestible protein, can help prevent diabetes, and can lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Kamut

It contains up to 40 percent more protein than wheat. It is rich in zinc, magnesium, and selenium.

Rye

It contains anti-inflammatory properties, it is low in calories, and high in fiber. It aids metabolism, and can help prevent gallstones.

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Americans have managed to convince themselves that eating chicken is much healthier than eating beef or pork. In reality, a single serving of chicken contains just as much cholesterol as beef, and eggs contain three times the amount. Even if you buy chicken, which has been organically and ethically raised, you still run into the cholesterol issue.

Chickens are the most abused animals on the planet and roughly nine billion chickens are killed in the United States for consumption every year. 305 million hens of those nine billion are solely used for their eggs. The environment, specifically the crammed warehouses in which they live, is extremely detrimental to the health of the birds and the people who work there. The workers can develop respiratory problems from exposure to microorganisms, gasses, disinfectants, detergents, pesticides, and formaldehyde.

Why are we telling you all of this? Today, March 19^th, is National Poultry Day and we hope to guide you in a healthier direction in life. We want you all to live longer and healthier, and if that means telling you the dangers of eating chicken, well, that’s what we are going to do.

Factory Farms Produce Chemical Waste

The smells that emit from these farms are extremely hazardous to human health. The combination of manure, feed, chicken carcasses, and chicken waste is also an environmental threat. The sad part is that the air and odor emissions for such farms aren’t entirely regulated. Why is this? Chicken farming is over a $34 billion industry and stricter environmental regulations would “harm” the business.

Exposure To Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria

Thousands of chickens are crammed into massive sheds and fed large amounts of antibiotics and other chemicals, which prevent them from dying in their living conditions. These antibiotic food additives are considered high risk and may expose people to antibiotic resistant bacteria via the food supply. This can make it hugely difficult to rid the body of those bacteria.

E. coli and Salmonella

According to a USDA study, roughly 65% of broiler chickens contained E. coli in 2012. Because chickens live in such confinement, there is constant fecal contamination during processing. Additionally, a Consumer Reports analysis revealed that 83% of fresh broiler chickens had high levels of salmonella or campylobacter, which is the leading cause of food poisoning in America.

You Are Being Manipulated

When it comes to buying chicken, companies like to trick you into buying “healthier” options by using the terms “organic” and “free-range.” Hens that are raised for eggs are typically subject to crammed, unsanitary living conditions until they can’t produce any more eggs, referred to as “spent.” This is true for organic and inorganic poultry alike. Then these hens are slaughtered and thrown in high-speed grinders because they can no longer produce eggs, making them worthless.

Chickens Are Fed Arsenic

The chicken industry commonly feeds chickens arsenic, which makes them grow faster. This chemical is toxic to humans and can increase a person’s risk of neurological disorders, dementia, some cancers, and other general health problems.

We hope you take all of this into consideration next time you think about buying or eating chicken.

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