White rice is preferred over brown by most Americans.
Whole grain rice, also known as brown rice, is simply white rice that hasn't been hulled. During the hulling process, whole grain rice is stripped of its outer bran and germ components, leaving just the endosperm. This is what we commonly know as white rice. Unfortunately, 70 percent of rice eaten in the United States is the nutritionally inferior white variety.
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The Grain
The endosperm is nutritionally poor.
A grain of rice is made up of three parts; the bran, germ and endosperm. The bran is the hard, outer layer of the seed and provides most of the fiber. The germ is the embryo of the seed, from which the new plant sprouts and it contains most of the grain's fat and nutrients. After the milling process is complete, you are left with the endosperm and a mere fraction of the vitamins and minerals brown rice contains.
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Nutritional Numbers
Brown rice has about four times as much fiber as white rice.
Brown rice is much more nutritionally dense than its white, milled counterpart. One cup of cooked brown rice has about 3.5 g of dietary fiber while a cup of white rice has less than 1 g. According to the USDA's 2010 recommendations, "Dietary fiber that naturally occurs in foods may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and type two diabetes." Whole grain rice also has substantially more vitamin E, vitamin B-6, folacin, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium than white rice.
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Cooking and Storage
Brown rice may be an aquired taste for some people.
White rice usually cooks in about 20 minutes while whole grain rice can take up to 45 minutes. Whole grain rice has more of a bite to it, and some prefer its more wholesome flavor over white rice. Because whole grain rice contains more fat, it's prone to rancidity and therefore has a shorter shelf life. Whole grain rice will keep for just six months while white rice can stay good for several years.
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Choose Your Grain Wisely
Which type of rice fits your needs?
Each type of rice has its advantages and disadvantages. White rice is generally less expensive than brown and stays fresh longer, so it could be the more logical choice for families who want to buy in large quantities. Brown rice is nutritionally superior, and the higher fiber content will leave you feeling full longer. Because brown rice is still relatively inexpensive, incorporating this type of whole grain into your diet is both an easy and economical way to get on the path to healthy eating.
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references & resources
Dr. Lam: Brown Rice versus White Rice
Eat This: Brown Rice vs. White Rice -- a Comparison
DiabetesInsider.com: White Rice Consumption - Another Alarming Sign in Type 2 Diabetes
United States Department of Agriculture: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
The Health Benefits of Brown Rice
references & resources
Dr. Lam: Brown Rice versus White Rice
Eat This: Brown Rice vs. White Rice -- a Comparison
DiabetesInsider.com: White Rice Consumption - Another Alarming Sign in Type 2 Diabetes
United States Department of Agriculture: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
The Health Benefits of Brown Rice
White rice is preferred over brown by most Americans.
The endosperm is nutritionally poor.
Brown rice has about four times as much fiber as white rice.
Brown rice may be an aquired taste for some people.
Which type of rice fits your needs?
Dr. Lam: Brown Rice versus White Rice
Eat This: Brown Rice vs. White Rice -- a Comparison
DiabetesInsider.com: White Rice Consumption - Another Alarming Sign in Type 2 Diabetes
United States Department of Agriculture: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
The Health Benefits of Brown Rice
