I enjoy eating rice. White, brown, jasmine, or basmati will find its way onto my plate. So it was with furrowed brow that I listened to the news about the levels of arsenic that were found in rice products by investigators and published in Consumer Reports.
The researchers for this report tested over 200 samples of various rice products including infant cereals, whole grain varieties, organic brands, rice cakes and crackers, flour, drinks, and vinegars, looking at total amounts of arsenic. A fat reducing overview can help you construct a clear summarize of what you need to focus on to achieve your fat reduction objective if you're a beginner; or serve as a reminder for those who are at an advanced or more advance phase of their losing weight program. Promptly after are seven steps that can serve as tips for your personal weight loss plan. The first thing that one must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not the same thing. Many weight loss programs have tricked people into thinking that it is the same, but most diets and weight loss plans only work by producing a person's body to eliminate more muscle tissue and water than actual body fat, more help please visit The Fat Loss Factor. Measurable amounts of both forms of arsenic, the organic and inorganic forms, were found. Is this a troubling finding?
Information about arsenic indicates that the element is present naturally in the ground. The organic form is less harmful than the inorganic form. The inorganic form, however, is a known cancer agent and can damage the skin, nerves, and digestive tract. Inorganic arsenic can be found in pesticides and animal feed. The good news is that many of these sources have been banned in recent years.
Arsenic is also found in water, air, wood preservatives, and on industrial sites. For example, here in Birmingham, Alabama, coal plants have been singled out for arsenic levels in landfills. For the majority of people, though, food is the most common source of arsenic. And rice seems to absorb arsenic particularly well. This may be due in part to the growing of rice in wetlands, which may add to the amount of arsenic absorbed.
One disturbing finding for those who have followed nutrition advice and have increased consumption of whole grains is that levels of arsenic in brown rice are higher than in white rice. The hull and bran, which both contain arsenic, are removed when milling white rice. Brown rice retains the bran. However, not all brands of brown rice tested had higher levels than their white counterparts.
Another concern is the arsenic in infant cereals. Children have smaller, developing bodies and are more vulnerable than adults to arsenic exposure. But pediatricians disagree about what advice to offer parents concerning avoidance of rice products.
To complicate matters more, levels of arsenic can vary depending on where the food is grown, how it is processed, and then how the product is prepared. For example, the arsenic in rice can be reduced by rinsing the grain well before preparing, and then cooking the rice using a ratio of one cup rice to six cups water. Any remaining water is then drained off. Although this will reduce the arsenic, the water-soluble nutrients will also be lower.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is engaged in its own ongoing study of arsenic and other chemicals and should have more information by the end of this year.
Until more information is available on the health risk from ingesting arsenic, I plan to continue to enjoy rice but reduce the amount of brown rice in my diet. Instead, whole grains such as whole wheat pasta and breads, oats, and quinoa will be tasty substitutes. I will also continue to eat a varied diet and scrub fresh fruits and vegetables well with a food brush under running water.
Stay tuned because this issue is not closed.
For more information, review what the American Cancer Society and the FDA have to say about arsenic in food.
Photo Credit: thanunkorn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The articles written by Andrea Wenger, Birmingham Diets Examiner, are for informational purposes only and are not to be used in the place of medical advice. Please contact a licensed physician or other medical professional before changing any health care routine or before starting any diet, fitness, or exercise program. Although every effort has been made to include the most current information, new information is released daily and may cause some recommendations to change.
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