Choose Brown, Not White Rice

Do you know one of the most important decisions you make at a Chinese restaurant is?  It is the type of rice you get with your coconut shrimp.  Yep, who knew that health and the environment were so closely tied to a tasty carb staple.  So next time you are cooking that perfect meal or picking up your side with pad thai...

CHOOSE BROWN RICE!

First, let's look at why brown rice is healthier than white rice.  Brown rice is the raw version of all rice.  White rice is created through added step in the harvesting process.  The germ and the inner husk of brown rice is removed and the grain is then polished with glucose or talc.  These added steps remove Vitamin E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folacin, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron and over a dozen other nutrients from the rice.  Also, the dietary fiber of a white rice is only a quarter of that found in brown rice.

Second, because of these added steps in the harvesting process added energy is used.  This added energy makes white rice much less energy efficient then brown rice.  So instead of losing health benefits and contributing to global warming, chose that delicious brown alternative at the Indian restaurant.