Arsenic in brown rice

[Muse]

I was investigating beans yesterday and by happenstance discovered that there's a huge issue with arsenic in brown rice. Yes, even "organic" rice. I hit on many links.

Arsenic in brown rice

l had just recently bought a 15lb bag of organic brown rice from Costco. Said it was grown in CA, which I noticed when buying the bag a few weeks ago. I had discarded the bag after emptying the rice into containers, so can't just now read the fine print on the bag.

Well, people say to try to remove some of the arsenic by washing, cooking in excess water, changing the water while cooking, there are varying suggestions.

The most aggressive method I saw was this:
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Whatever rice you're preparing, be it high-arsenic brown or low-arsenic basmati, to minimize arsenic content, wash the rice first, Urbach says. Cook six cups of water to one cup of rice, discard all the water during the process and replace it with two cups of fresh water. Finish cooking. Rinse the finished product in yet more water. Ta da.

This cooking method will also discard some nutrients, but you can't have it all.
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What method would/do you use? Or should I just toss what I haven't eaten yet (I have used a pound or two already, don't figure returning the unused portion to Costco is an option).

 

[mike8675309]

Dr. Greger of Nutritionfacts.org recently did a series on arsenic and rice. His statement was

So, bottom line, until we know more, my current thinking on the matter is: if you really like rice, you can moderate your risk by cutting down, choosing lower-arsenic varieties, and cooking it in a way to lower exposure even further. But, if you like other whole grains just as much—like if you simply don’t care either way if you have rice vs. quinoa, or whatever, I’d choose the lower-arsenic option.

He also had videos on:
Cooking to lower the arsenic levels
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/how-to-cook-rice-to-lower-arsenic-levels/
The lowest arsenic levels by source.
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/which-brands-and-sources-of-rice-have-the-least-arsenic/

 

[Muse]

Just watched those videos. Well, at least my rice was grown in CA. It's not Basmati. Where in CA and was it in contaminated fields? I have no way of knowing. I cooked a batch yesterday in accordance with the 6:1 water to rice and post cooking and pre cooking rinse described in the OP. Quite a hassle, but I figure it makes sense. I think I'm going to give up rice in general when I run out of my 15lb bag!

 

[whm1974]

Don't buy brown rice from China?

 

[WelshBloke]

Don't buy brown rice from China?

You could do that but...

In the largest review to date, based on 5,800 rice samples from 25 countries, the highest total arsenic average came from the United States, with U.S. studies overall averaging about double that of rice out of Asia, with the high levels in the U.S. blamed on the heavy historic use of arsenic-based pesticides.

 

[Mai72]

I stopped eating brown rice.

 

[skull]

From what I understand they didn't use arsenic as a pesticide in California. So Californian grown brown rice is safer, I've been getting mine off amazon.

Its sprouted brown rice and I have been wondering if that keeps it from being a complex carb.

 

[WelshBloke]

From what I understand they didn't use arsenic as a pesticide in California. So Californian grown brown rice is safer, I've been getting mine off amazon.

Sounds good.

There’s significantly more arsenic in rice from Texas and Arkansas than rice from California. If you just look at California rice, then it’s actually comparable to rice produced around the rest of the world. This is presumably some of the data that led Consumer Reports to suggest brown basmati from California, India, or Pakistan might be among the safer rice choices.

 

[Muse]

Well, the brown rice I bought from Costco (15lb), says organic California. Now, the online research I've done says that organic isn't a guarantee that the land it's grown on wasn't subject to arsenic pesticide use a long time ago (e.g. 15+ years ago? It does remain in soil for long periods.), and that California brown rice is apt to have less arsenic than, say, Texas, but it is still apt to have significant arsenic content, which is in the bran (as are a lot of the minerals, and you will lose a lot of minerals in the process of trying to rinse out the arsenic). Inorganic arsenic (which is the concern here), is soluble in water, thus the rinse, etc. recommendations.

I've made a couple batches since I posted here, rinsing well, bringing to boil and discarding water, replacing with some water and finishing the cooking. I bought a 20lb bag of Indian grown basmati rice from Costco but haven't opened it. Not being brown rice, it's a better bet and online sources say Indian grown rice (and some others) are much safer regarding arsenic. I'm not sure I want to keep the basmati rice, though, because of some research I did a few days ago on adult stem cells, and they caution against carbohydrates.

 

[mike8675309]

This video shows studies found California, Pakistan and India rice to have the least arsenic.
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/which-brands-and-sources-of-rice-have-the-least-arsenic/

 

[Muse]

I've cut back on my arsenic, err..., brown rice. I'm still debating whether to open or return my unopened 20lb bag of Indian Basmati white rice to Costco. Yes, it's apt to be a lot lower in arsenic than any brown rice, but I'm wondering if nutritionally it's a good idea to eat rice at all.

 

[paperfist]

In all seriousness don't you want to introduce your body to a little adversity? I mean if fall you ever eat is pure white snow eventually when you get a hit of yellow snow by accident your body will just go into shock and die.

 

[Muse]

In all seriousness don't you want to introduce your body to a little adversity? I mean if fall you ever eat is pure white snow eventually when you get a hit of yellow snow by accident your body will just go into shock and die.

There's no avoiding some carcinogenic exposure, I don't care what you do. But I think it wise to try to not overexpose yourself to a lot of that. Toxins concern me. You're suggesting that if you limit exposure to toxins you make yourself susceptible to overexposure at some point. Well, if you can link me to studies or well considered discussions on this idea, fine. But it's not something I've heard much about.

I do a lot of exercise. Some of it causes bodily injury, even chronic injury and I suffer. But I know if I don't do it, when I do try some things my body will just break down or at the least will tire very readily, so I exercise anyway. It's a tradeoff. I intuitively understand this. But not limiting exposure to toxic chemicals, I think the analogy is weak. Yes, I want to be resistant to toxics, but does exposure to them contribute to resistance or does it just increase your risk of suffering from them?

 

[dullard]

Switch part of your brown rice consumption to barley. Unless you specifically wanted a pile of just brown rice, you can often fool yourself into thinking the barley is brown rice. That is, once you stir the brown rice into a dish, it is hard to tell it apart from barley. I often use buckwheat too as a substitute, although it is harder to get the buckwheat texture to exactly match that of rice.

Basically, you don't have to throw your rice away, but doing a 50 rice / 50 other substitute mixture will be almost indistinguishable but half the arsenic.

 

[whm1974]

Switch part of your brown rice consumption to barley. Unless you specifically wanted a pile of just brown rice, you can often fool yourself into thinking the barley is brown rice. That is, once you stir the brown rice into a dish, it is hard to tell it apart from barley. I often use buckwheat too as a substitute, although it is harder to get the buckwheat texture to exactly match that of rice.

Basically, you don't have to throw your rice away, but doing a 50 rice / 50 other substitute mixture will be almost indistinguishable but half the arsenic.

I cook both brown rice and barley together along with a large diced potato, and onion a few days ago. Eating the last bowl of it now.

 

[Muse]

I use barley a lot. I like it in soups and stews. I bought a package of organic quinoa at Costco a few weeks ago but haven't opened it yet. I think some people use it instead of rice. It is more expensive by far but is healthier and high in protein, is what they say.

 

[paperfist]

There's no avoiding some carcinogenic exposure, I don't care what you do. But I think it wise to try to not overexpose yourself to a lot of that. Toxins concern me. You're suggesting that if you limit exposure to toxins you make yourself susceptible to overexposure at some point. Well, if you can link me to studies or well considered discussions on this idea, fine. But it's not something I've heard much about.

I do a lot of exercise. Some of it causes bodily injury, even chronic injury and I suffer. But I know if I don't do it, when I do try some things my body will just break down or at the least will tire very readily, so I exercise anyway. It's a tradeoff. I intuitively understand this. But not limiting exposure to toxic chemicals, I think the analogy is weak. Yes, I want to be resistant to toxics, but does exposure to them contribute to resistance or does it just increase your risk of suffering from them?

It was more of a hypothetical response based off of the anti-bacterial soap debate wherein over exposure to it causes you to not only kill the good bacteria, but weakens your system toward fighting off germs.

It's really a fact of life that we've caused enough environmental pollution that our food sources have toxins in them. I believe we all have Mercury and heavy metals in our systems. Probably peso sides too, but I haven't heard of anyone dropping deal directly because of them.

I'll have to put some research into it. Using your example of strenghting parts of your body that are weak helps you grow. So why not toxins too? Obviously you wouldn't want to intake a lot of them.

 

[Muse]

Reducing exposure to germs has been shown to weaken your immune system dramatically and make you susceptible to bacteria or virus disease. But I've never heard of a similar effect for carcinogenic substances such as arsenic. It's plausible, I suppose, but I've never considered it. Similarly, I try not to breathe automobile etc. exhaust. I don't like the smell, I know it's bad for me. It has never occurred to me that some is better than none in that it would build up my resistance to air pollution.That would be a new one on me.

 

[crashtech]

There are so many environmental toxins that we're exposed to, even if you grow all your own food you'll be at risk for many contaminants. Dioxin from burning plastics is probably a greater risk factor than small amounts of toxic metals/metalloids.

 

[mike8675309]

There are so many environmental toxins that we're exposed to, even if you grow all your own food you'll be at risk for many contaminants. Dioxin from burning plastics is probably a greater risk factor than small amounts of toxic metals/metalloids.

That's one way to look at it. But on the other side if people are trying to eat more whole foods and they have options to reduce their exposure vs increase their exposure, why not choose to reduce it? It's not about eliminating all risk. It is more about reducing risk where you can.

 

[Muse]

That's one way to look at it. But on the other side if people are trying to eat more whole foods and they have options to reduce their exposure vs increase their exposure, why not choose to reduce it? It's not about eliminating all risk. It is more about reducing risk where you can.

Yup.

 

[Muse]

There are so many environmental toxins that we're exposed to, even if you grow all your own food you'll be at risk for many contaminants. Dioxin from burning plastics is probably a greater risk factor than small amounts of toxic metals/metalloids.

Dioxin is notorious. But dioxin compounds are just the tip of the iceberg of bad actors in our environments, albeit incredibly toxic in its own right. There is a plethora of substances to be concerned about and some of them are studied but what isn't/can't be adequately studied is the effect of near infinite various combinations of substances/factors on life forms. Some of these substances are deliberately used in industrial processes and in food production. They might test some contaminants or questionable additives that get in your food but what the effects are in combination with some other things you are exposed to is generally unknown. Pollution is a mysterious, very concerning hydra-headed monster.

 

[crashtech]

@Muse , agreed. Maybe I made it sound like I was making light of the arsenic problem, did not mean to do that. It's all pretty dang scary if you think about it too much.

 

[Muse]

@Muse , agreed. Maybe I made it sound like I was making light of the arsenic problem, did not mean to do that. It's all pretty dang scary if you think about it too much.

I'll be spare with my rice consumption relative to what I have been doing in the past, although I don't have steady habits. What rice I do eat I figure should be the safer sort. I cooked quinoa for the first times the last few days. Complete protein, very quick to cook, I like the taste, it fluffs up beautifully (recipe:1 cup to 2 cups water, simmered for 15 minutes, let sit 5 minutes, fluff). It's more expensive but not terribly. And AFAIK, not a pollution issue.

 

[balloonshark]

I add a little Better than Bullion to my Quinoa or Rice to help give it a little favor. Unfortunately I didn't see that it had salt so I'm just trying to use it up. I want to find some other type of flavoring that doesn't have salt.

What type of Quinoa did you cook? I had a box of white or tan and it was good. The other night I cooked a tri-colored mixed type (harmony) and it wasn't as good and didn't get transparent or soft. Maybe I didn't cook it long enough.