The difference between brown rice and white rice is not just the color! The difference lies in the way it is processed and its nutritional content. If the outermost layer of a grain of rice (otherwise known as the husk) is removed, the result is brown rice, and it is a “whole grain.” If the bran layer underneath is also removed, the result is white rice, and it is just a “white grain.” Several vitamins and dietary minerals are lost by removing the bran.
Missing nutrients, such as vitamin B1, B3, and iron are sometimes added back into the white rice making it “enriched,” as food suppliers in the U.S. are required to do by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is called fortified white rice or enriched white rice. This form of processed rice is not the same as the original unprocessed version, and a plethora of nutrients are not replaced even with rice “enrichment.” Generally speaking, eating a food that contains its original vitamins and minerals in tact is much better for you than eating an “enriched” food that has been stripped of its nutrients and had chemically processed nutrients artificially added.
Brown rice is not only better for you, but it’s better for the environment too! It’s basically down to the way the rice is processed; the less processing of a food, the less energy required. And white rice needs a lot more energy to process than brown rice, because the bran is also removed along with the husk. There is also the issue of the synthetic vitamins added back in the enriched white rice. They are produced in laboratories and factories from a variety of chemicals; and these kinds of processes are well known for their negative impact on the environment. So do yourself and the environment a favor!
Long story short, brown rice is much healthier than white rice. Brown rice has less calories, more fiber, more protein, more antioxidants, increases bone health and provides more long-term energy. The oil found in brown rice even reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It reduces the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallstones, breast cancer, colon cancer, and obesity. If you need something to sustain you for a long workout, (or long periods without food) I know from first hand experience that brown rice is the way to go. In retrospect, I started seeing my six-pack after I switched from white rice to brown rice a long time ago. The slightest tweaks in your health can make the most difference.The healthiest bodies are built by whole grains!
