Therefore they should be treated as such, right?
Types of rice courtesy of eatright.org
There are different types of rice: white -arborio, jasmine, basmati-, brown, red, and the minorities of (black) wild rice. However, they CANNOT be treated the same when speaking of health.
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database (1), the macro-, micro- nutrient content can vary. Below, is a very brief overview of some of the key nutrient values of certain types of rice.
| Type of rice | 1cup size (g) | Carbs (g) | DietaryFiber (g) | Iron (mg) |
| Wild | 164 | 35 | 3 | 0.9 |
| White –med | 186 | 53 | 0.6 | 2.7 |
| Brown –med | 195 | 46 | 3.5 | 1.0 |
| White – short | 186 | 53 | 0 | 2.7 |
Notice the differences in the amount of dietary fiber (DF) or iron. Just think how that effects the digestion and subsequent utilization in our body and overall health. Also, think about the serving size, one cup, but the actual amount of weight for each type of rice differs. Even though one cup of brown rice has the greatest amount in weight (195 g) and may have the least content of iron, its got the greatest DF. This means that brown rice when eaten will provide more bulk while taking a little longer to digest/absorb into the body. This reflects in how quickly (or shall I say slowly) energy is released into circulation. The feeling of satiety and energy will be prolonged. However, to provide a balanced diet of vitamins and minerals, do include other sources of iron with the meal of brown rice. Afterall, eating a rainbow of colours is ideal for any meal.
For an alternative grain, that may provide something exciting for the taste buds or a challenge in the kitchen, try quinoa (keen-wah) or couscous and barley. These are considered to be whole grain -not refined or processed like white rice- that not only adds bulk to your meal, but hidden nutrients and DF from the outer skin that are normally processed/washed off for better marketing and consumption by the public.
I always joke about how some cultures only exist on a diet of “brown and white” foods (in reference to my fish supper eating sweatheart) and though it is delicious and not all processed and packaged foods, I think the colour of brown can be beneficial when its in the form of rice or quinoa or barley…. take your pick!
Reference:
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