Brown rice as whole grain is usually chosen in favor of white rice because it is healthier as it still has the nutritious hull. However, the arsenic concentrate is especially high in the hulls of brown rice and thus suggests avoiding it until it is clarified how poisoning arsenic really is.
Consumer Reports released last week that brown rice, white rice, rice milk, and other rice products contain arsenic at "worrisome levels", even though it is still unclear what amount of arsenic eventually causes long-term health issues.
It is reported that exposure to high levels of arsenic may raise risk for cancer and heart disease, as well as lower IQs and poorer intellectual function for children. It's even more dangerous for newborns and babies, as it can affect brain development.
Studies now show that even though organic arsenic is naturally present in soil, about a hundred years ago, the states along the Gulf used pesticides for their cotton crops which contained high levels of inorganic arsenic. Rice that now grows on that farms absorbs the rests of the dangerous inorganic arsenic, no matter whether it is 'organic' brown rice or conventional.
Doctors usually recommend reducing the amount of rice-products consumed weekly and for pregnant women and new moms to stay clear of rice. For other people however it wasn't recommended to avoid rice completely but rather to keep a balanced diet.
Related Articles:
Arsenic in Rice: FDA Lacks Standards on Carcinogens in Food
Arsenic in Rice Milk Causes Worry Among Parents of Small Children
Arsenic in Brown Rice: Asians and Hispanic Affected More Than Average American
Rice and Arsenic: What is Arsenic Poisoning?
Arsenic in Rice: Shocking Test Results Reveal High Arsenic Poisoning Risks
