Which is better for your health? Wild, Brown, or White Rice?
There are several different varieties of rice. Most people were raised eating white rice and continue to do so. However, the different types of rice provide different nutritional benefits. Let’s look specifically at white rice, brown rice, and wild rice.
White Rice
White rice has been milled so that the husk, bran, and germ are removed leaving you with a refined product. During this process, the rice is polished giving it the bright, white, shiny appearance we expect.
By removing these layers the flavor, texture, and appearance of the rice is changed and the shelf life is extended as it is now less likely to spoil.
Nutrients are removed during the processing, such as the B vitamin thiamine. Due to this depletion of nutrients, white rice is usually enriched. This means some the nutrients removed during processing are added back in, such as thiamine, niacin, and iron.
Brown Rice
Brown rice is not milled, meaning the only layer removed is the husk, leaning the bran, germ, and endosperm intact. This makes for a wide difference in nutritional composition between brown rice and white rice.
During the enrichment of white rice, magnesium is not a nutrient added back. Long grain brown rice contains 84 mg of magnesium, while white rice contains only ~19 mg per cup cooked rice. Brown rice also contains a higher level of potassium, phosphorus, zinc and folate:
Potassium – 84 mg vs 55 mg per cup
Phosphorus – 162 mg vs 68 mg per cup
Zinc – 1.23 mg vs 0.77 mg per cup
Folate – 8 µg vs 5 µg per cup
Brown rice also provides higher levels of fiber and protein:
Fiber – 3.5 g vs 0.6 g per cup
Protein – 5 g vs 4.3 g per cup
Wild Rice
Wild rice is actually a grain (the seed of wheat grass). Let’s look at the nutritional breakdown and the compare to white and brown rice:
Potassium – 166 mg per cup
Magnesium – 52 mg per cup
Phophorus – 134 mg per cup
Zinc – 2.20 mg per cup
Folate – 43 µg per cup
Fiber – 3 g per cup
Protein – 6.5 g per cup
Wild rice contains more protein, zinc, and potassium than both brown and white rice varieties. Wild rice is significantly higher in folate and most of the other B vitamins (not listed) as well.
What this means in regards to heart health?
High blood pressure plays a prominent role in your risk for heart disease. To control high blood pressure you need a diet rich in potassium and magnesium. To prevent heart disease you also want to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, which means a diet rich in dietary fiber. Based on these needs you’ll want to include brown and/or wild rice in your diet over white rice.
Meatless Meal Option. . .
Even if you are not a vegetarian, it is still beneficial for heart health to include occasional meals that are not meat based. Preparing a meal including both rice and legumes provides all your essential amino acids equaling a complete protein source. A great alternative to consider!
If you haven’t already, you can still access the free e-course 7 Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure at http://lowerbloodpressurewithlisa.com.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
https://lisanelsonrd.com
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Heart Health Made Easy: Master the Basics to Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol for a Longer, Healthier Life |
