If you think you’re being healthier buying brown over white rice, you might want to think twice.
Researchers have found that brown rice contains 15 percent higher levels of arsenic, a toxic metal linked to cancer and brain damage.
For the average healthy adult, it might not make much difference.
But the Michigan State University team behind the analysis said it could pose risks to young children whose brains are still developing.
The scientists found that children between the ages of six to 24 months who ate brown rice had approximately twice the estimated arsenic exposure compared to those consuming white rice in similar quantities.
Early exposure to arsenic, a naturally occurring chemical element found in the Earth’s crust, has been linked to lower IQ, reduced memory, learning difficulties and more serious brain conditions like autism and ADHD.
Felicia Wu, a professor at the university and the senior author of the study noted: ‘This research is important because it acknowledges the importance of considering food safety along with nutrition when consumers make choices about food.
‘While we found that choosing brown rice over white rice would result in higher arsenic exposure on average, the levels should not cause long-term health problems unless someone ate an enormous amount of brown rice every day for years.’
Opting to buy a bag of brown rice instead of white for your family may make your children sick and increase your risk for cancer
Brown rice has more arsenic due the accumulation of the toxic chemical in the outer brown layer of the grain, known as rice bran.
While the rice bran gives the brown rice its color, it is removed during the milling process to produce white rice – therefore decreasing its arsenic concentration.
The experts reviewed dozens on the nutritional aspects of brown and white rice and then analyzed data from the ‘What We Eat in America’ database compiled by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Joint Institute of Food Science and Applied Nutrition.
Once they found out how much rice Americans in different age groups consume from the database, they calculated the average daily dose (ADD) of arsenic exposure using a formula that considered arsenic levels in rice, daily rice consumption and average body weight for different age cohorts.
With these numbers, they compared arsenic exposure from white rice versus brown rice and examined exposure patterns across different age groups – with particular attention to children under five years old.
Of the total arsenic found in the rice, 48 percent was the inorganic form – meaning that the toxic substance had combined with other elements such as oxygen, chlorine or sulfur and could cause more damage than organic arsenic.
While in white rice, it was 33 percent.
Arsenic comes in two forms: Inorganic arsenic (the dangerous kind – linked to cancer, developmental issues, etc.) Organic arsenic (less toxic, found naturally in some seafood including fish, shellfish and seaweed).
On the other hand, brown rice grown in the rest of the world had a staggering 65 percent inorganic concentration level while white rice also had a shocking 53 percent concentration.
The US rice industry produces 20 billion pounds of rice annually, out of which 80 percent is consumed by Americans itself while it imports about 1.3 million tons of the grain.
Moreover, rice bran – the outer layer that makes rice ‘brown’ – was found to contain arsenic concentrations roughly 10 times higher than the rice endosperm (the white interior portion).
The experts also found that infants and toddlers between the ages of six to 24 months consuming brown rice might ingest arsenic at levels of 0.29 to 0.59 micrograms per kilogram of body weight daily – exceeding the recommended safe limit of 0.21 micrograms.
Pictured: Felicia Wu, a professor at the university and the senior author of the study
Children between the ages of six to 24 months who ate brown rice had approximately twice the estimated arsenic exposure
‘Rice bran and brown rice are shown to have a higher arsenic content and inorganic arsenic concentration than the grain endosperm or white rice,’ the researchers concluded.
Inorganic arsenic is a naturally occurring form of arsenic that is toxic element and is widely distributed in the Earth’s crust,. It can be found in soil, water and food.
In comparison to other crops planted in the soil, rice naturally absorbs more arsenic- taking up nearly 10 times more arsenic than other grains.
This happens because rice grows in flooded paddies, creating conditions where arsenic becomes more available through water as well as the soil.
Once absorbed through the roots, the toxic compound accumulates primarily in the outer layers of the rice grain known as rice bran.
In the case of white rice, rice bran is precisely the part that is removed during processing to bring out the white color of the grain – which reduced its overall arsenic concentration.
In comparison to other crops planted in the soil, rice naturally absorbs more arsenic- taking up nearly 10 times more arsenic than other grain
The FDA warns that long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic can cause arsenic poisoning, skin disorders and increased risks for skin, bladder and lung cancers as well as for cardiovascular diseases.
Exposure to high levels of arsenic during times of active brain development (infants and toddlers) is also associated with adverse neurological effects such as learning disabilities, behavior difficulties and lowered IQ – paving the way for conditions such as autism.
Furthermore, short-term exposure to very high amounts of inorganic arsenic can result in nausea, vomiting, bruising and numbness or burning sensations in the hands and feet in people of any age.
While precise annual deaths from arsenic exposure in the US are difficult to pinpoint due to various causes and potential misattribution, studies suggest that about 500 annual premature deaths from heart disease and 1,000 annual cancer cases are due to exposure to arsenic through drinking water.
In 2016, three Americans died from arsenic poisoning, the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) said.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, arsenic poisoning due to drinking contaminated water affects at least 140 million people.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .