Brown Rice versus White Rice: Study Shows Brown Rice Found to Contain Higher Arsenic Than White Rice
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A new study from Michigan State University has sparked important conversations around food safety and nutrition, revealing that brown rice-often praised for its health benefits-contains higher levels of arsenic than white rice, raising potential health concerns, particularly for young children. Findings are published in the journal Risk Analysis. The study compared arsenic exposure from brown and white rice among American populations. It found that brown rice contains more total and inorganic arsenic, a toxic substance linked to long-term health risks when consumed in high quantities over time.
Brown rice is widely seen as a healthier alternative to white rice due to its higher fiber, protein, and nutrient content. However, it also retains the outer layers of the grain, where arsenic accumulates most. Researchers found that brown rice had 48% inorganic arsenic, compared to 33% in white rice for U.S.-grown rice. Globally, the figures rose to 65% for brown rice and 53% for white rice.
The study highlights that rice absorbs up to 10 times more arsenic than other cereal grains because it is often cultivated in flooded paddies, which increase arsenic uptake from the soil.
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