White Rice vs. Brown Rice vs. Basmati

I looked at white rice and brown rice comparison. In my humble opinion, it's more of a marketing gimmik that shows Brown Rice Better. Brown Rice has more calories and Fat which no one seem to bring up. Also, per FDA mandate, white rice in US does have vitamins and minrals added back to them. So, up to that point - white Rick are still better. Brown rice does have higher protein and fiber. So one should compare this more carefully - High Protein and Fiber or High Calories and High FAT? Now, consider the business end of this game - the brown rice does not need any milling, processing or fortification. It does not even have to be fortified per FDA mandate. This saves larger rice manufacturers millions of dollars in rice production. Less processing improves rice manufacturer's bottom line while selling on "Nutritional Advantages" allow them to target higher end of consumer marketplace for more money. This improves their topline. So, in summary - rice manufacturers have improved their profit margins by cutting down on processing and positioning the product as whole food diat. Health wise, I think there is absolutely NO difference between the two.

it is because white rice is more highly processed that it has to be "fortified". 1st they remove nutrients, then they replace them with manmade chemical "equivalents". i prefer my nutrients to come from nature rather than a lab. also, we need fats in our diet... and veggie fats are much less harmful than animal fats.just my thoughts....

enjoy your food where ever you are....

if u want less calories, eat less, fatty. natural is always better

Dude! Brown rice is more expensive because it is less common as it was (and still is) thought by many Asians that only the poorest people ate it. Some brainwashed people still believe that. Brown rice goes rancid within 6-12 months and so white rice is preferred as it stays longer because the outer essential fatty layer has been removed from it in the processing. Brown rice is a whole food, like dry beans, raw nut and fruit veges. If people ate more whole foods as opposed to processed ones (takeaways, cow milk, hamburgers, yes eating animals is very unhealthy too!) we wouldn't need pills and diets to make us a normal weight.

consider eating an apple with the skin, an apple without the skin, or apple juice. which one do you think is better for you? apple with the skin. While apple without the skin still has benefits, you have removed a LOT of vitamins and fiber by removing the skin. Apple juice, having been so processed you have gotten rid of a lot of its nutrients and are mainly drinking sugar. Same with brown rice, white rice and rice flour...or whole wheat, regular wheat and white wheat flour. Essentially the less you mess with it, the healthier it is. White rice is digested faster and absorbed faster, which could play havoc with your blood glucose levels. whereas brown rice keeps you full longer cause it takes longer to digest it, and is has a slow steady effect on your blood glucose levels.

This is a good example of the adage that everybody has an opinion but few have well-informed opinions. Even in the age of the Internet some tend to cook up conspiracy theories to explain the gaps in their knowledge instead of seeking out information that is easily obtainable.

Brown rice contains much higher levels of many nutrients compared to fortified white rice. The fat comes from bran oil which helps control bad cholesterol. Add in the fiber and you've got a healthy whole grain food instead of empty calories. White rice is the equivalent of white bread.

Raj, I appreciate your attempt to use critical thinking in determining which rice is better. Unfortunately, you are wrong. White rice breaks down into simple sugars which causes an insulin spike. Foods that have this property are considered to have a high glycemic index. Brown rice breaks down into complex sugars and releases the sugar (energy) over time, thus giving one more sustained energy. Brown rice has a lower glycemic index than white rice.

I think you're incorrect, Raj. Brown Rice & White Rice have equal calories. Brown rice is more expensive because of low supply and high demand, plus it easily spoils. There's no harm in reading wikipedia and reviewing Economics or simply Googling it.

Raj, Even though brown rice contains more fat, this fat gets absorbed by the fiber, and prevent it from entering the body easily. also, brown rice is less demanded and goes rancid more faster, that's why it's more expensive: it's harder to store and goes bad faster. And also, it doesn't taste as good as white rice. Also, fortified minerals and vitamins are never as good as natural ones. Many research has been done on the comparison of the two, and the reason that it is healthier doesn't come out of thin air.

Always go with natural...is the best !