Which Rice Has Less Arsenic: Black, Brown, Red, White or Wild?

Brown rice contains more arsenic than white, but the arsenic in brown rice is less absorbable so how does it wash out when you compare the urine arsenic levels of white rice eaters to brown rice eaters?

Wait, arsenic where? If you’re just joining in on the topic, check out these lead-up videos;

Seems like each of these videos just raise more questions—don’t worry, answers are coming! Stay tuned for:

Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

Icons created by Marco Galtarossa and Yasir Bugra Eryimaz from The Noun Project.

Image credit: IRRI Images via Wikimedia Commons

[PChuu]

I'm really enjoying this series on rice and arsenic contamination, but I'm hoping there's a happy ending somewhere along the way. Thank you for putting it together, Dr. Greger!

[GlennGJ]

I replaced rice with red lentils a year or so ago, not only does it contain less arsenic, but it contains more fiber and about twice as much nutrition and protein compared to brown rice, according to chronometer. Oh and it cooks twice as fast as well, and cost about the same if you buy it from an asian/indian store.

[shuvashishroy]

I grew up in the northern part of Bangladesh where Arsenic level is very low. My gradfather and othet ancestors have always ate rice brown rice. They were healthier, liver longer, some of them lived even more than 100, specially women. Now, my parents and concurrent relatives only eat white rice and tlmost if them have diabetis, high blood pressure. Health depends not only on a single thing but on entire life style. Eat basmati from Himalaya where there is less flood and less arsenic contamination. If you go to southern part of Bangladesh, tap water has high level of arsenic which is not the case in the northern part of Bangladesh. Soak and wash the rice in hot water 3, 4 times. I would always suggest eating whole grain, vegetables, soure fruits, no sugar, exercise everyday, practice gratitude and mindfuleness.

[trainingtall]

Since this series started, I've switched to eating mainly whole grain breads, oats, and a variety of different potatoes as opposed to rice and it's been great! :)

[SandyzSerious]

Nothing is safe. We've progressed ourselves to the end.

[baskonia]

I'm really enjoying this series of ride and arsenic relation and I would like to know the arsenic concentration in urine to get worried about.

[VeganFootsoldier]

why have we not yet covered the multiple studies showing an inverse correlation between rice consumption and cancer risk?

[philadams]

Thanks for going into so much detail on this. Rice is such a popular staple that investigation is needed. I prefer potatoes myself but the poorer populations aren't so lucky.

[PinkAmadeus]

Until now! I just love these words when they come from Dr. Greger.

[boySomebody]

Dr. Greger is such a tease. His videos often end in such cliffhangers... i guess that's it for me and rice until the next video in this series comes out ;) please let there be a way for me to continue eating rice without poisoning myself!

[gonewiththekale]

I soaked my rice for 30 minutes and rinsed before cooking. I had read somewhere that this technique takes out some of the arsenic. Then I began to cook/mix half rice to half quinoa in order to cut down on my love of rice. I worked on that until I got to just eating 100% quinoa. Now, after watching this video, I'm glad I did that!!👍🏼

[Bajoli]

It would be better information if it also showed all of the alternatives like beans and lentils...

[craigfoulds]

Where was the wild rice in this study 2:00 sourced?

[luro]

oh wow! and I was planning to switch to black rice! But no good news either! But, wait! how about black rice grown in the US?

[sooooooooDark]

4:47
actually "but it should help to put the minds of brown rice eaters at rest" is the exact opposite eh?
if brown rice contains MORE arsenic and the amount excreted thru urine is the same (okay maybe its excreted thru the stool but the data for that isnt there)...doesnt that mean MORE is absorbed? D:

[IvanBFit]

Love this video series. Tackling a controversy that faded but this video series is a good reminder of this issue still being a pending matter. This issue is controversial because if the environment is polluted, why is rice the cream of the croo (no pun intended) regarding arsenic levels? What about other foods being grown off the land?

[efivos]

Soaking and rinsing white/brown rice, as well as boiling in excess water have been proved to reduce the amount of arsenic contained. The question in all the studies mentioned in this video is if the rice was soaked and rinsed before consumption.

[ihatwyou]

what about quinua? i love rice, i'm crying hahahaha

[irinakrayzman]

So what are we supposed to be eating? Is there any type of rice we can eat, or a specific method to wash it?

[graziellatv]

Thanks so much for this doctor!! Your wonderful research was a part of my holistic nutrition training and it’s great to see you, and follow here on YouTube! ✌🏼