The Health Benefits of Brown Rice Vs. White Rice

I’m a huge fan of white rice. In fact, I eat white rice on a daily basis. This is probably because I’ve grown customary to eating white rice. But, I’ll go into more detail about that a little later.

As a nutrition specialist, client’s usually ask me their fair share of questions when it comes to the topic of rice. The most common question I am asked is, “Which rice is healthier to eat, white rice or brown rice?“

My answer: Well, that all depends on your fitness goals.

Whether you’re healthy or just a physically active person, it all comes down to your own personal preference. Your decision should be based off of what your health and/or fitness goals are.

For instance, if you’re someone who is trying to lose weight, maintain a healthy diet, or just trying to increase their fiber intake, brown rice may be ideal for you.

On the other hand, if you’re hitting the weights hard, trying to increase muscle mass, or training rigorously, then white rice might be the right choice for you.

Regardless of what your health and fitness goals are, both brown and white rice hold different nutritional value. Below are a few benefits of both white and brown rice that I like to share with my clients.

White Rice is Refined Rice

What you may not know is that all rice starts out as brown rice. Once white rice has been refined (A milling process that removes the rice’s husk, bran, and germ), it is stripped of it’s nutrition, vitamins, and minerals.

In comparison, brown rice is a whole grain that contains the bran and germ which provide much needed fiber as well as several vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

White Rice Helps Athletes Fuel Their Body

For athletes and those who do heavy weight training, white rice is a good source of carbohydrates. Most athletes and weightlifters eat white rice after their workouts because it helps replenish glycogen and it gives them energy.

According to sports nutrition expert Marie Spano, “glycogen, which is stored in the muscles, is the fuel source athletes must restore following strenuous training.” Therefore, eating white rice after extreme workouts helps with replenishing glycogen, and give your body the energy it needs to complete your day.

For example, during my Musclemania Competition years, I would eat white rice as part of my daily meal plan. This would help me with my muscle recovery and provide my body the fuel it needed after extreme workouts.

White Rice is Considered a Good Source for Carb Loading

This is also true for athletes who are half and full marathon runners. Most endurance runners I know prefer to eat a hefty serving of white rice the night before or after training for long distance runs. They call this carb loading.

Much like athletes who weight train, marathon runners also use white rice as a way to replenish glycogen and restore your body’s energy.

Dimity McDowell, of Runnersworld.com explains how most runners carb load the night before a marathon because it is a key component to fueling their best performance.

McDowell goes on to say that when you run out of glycogen during a race, your body becomes sluggish and you run out of energy. This is because your body slows down as it turns fat into energy.

Most marathon runners know that proper carb loading will help them run their best and help avoid losing energy during a long distance run.

Brown Rice Helps Lower Blood Sugar

As far as health goes, brown rice may help lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

On the other hand, a study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that higher white rice intake is associated with a significantly elevated risk of type 2 diabetes.

Brown Rice Contains More Phytate Than White Rice

Brown rice is also higher in physic acid than white rice. Like stated above, white rice is stripped of bran and germ once it’s refined. This in turn makes it lower in phytate compared to brown rice.

Phytate is an anti-nutrient which could reduce the ability for your body to absorb certain nutrients.

Phytate has several positive health effects. Healthline.com describes phytate as an antioxidant that may also be protective against kidney stones and cancer. Furthermore, it states that scientists suggest that phytate may be linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer.

Brown Rice Is a Good Source of Fiber

For those who are looking to add more fiber to their diet, brown rice is a good source of fiber. It is made of whole grains and low in calories.

The USDA states that one cup of brown rice (195g) has about 216 calories.

If you want to lose weight, you should consider brown rice. Although both rices have different nutritional value, and benefits, brown rice is higher in fiber and nutrients over white rice.

When looking at nutritional value and health benefits, brown rice is definitely the best choice to eat.

Conclusion

If you live a healthy and active lifestyle, you should eat whichever kind of rice you prefer.  Either type of rice can be a part of your health nutrition program.

Most importantly, enjoy a balance of white and brown rice to reach your healthy lifestyle goals.

If you’re interested creating a meal plan that fits your lifestyle, feel free to hit me up! I’ll be more than happy to customize a meal plan that can help you lose weight and stay fit.

SOURCES: https://www.todaysdietitian.com; Proper Nutrition Is Key to Refuel, Rehydrate, and Rebuild After Strenuous Workouts

Runnersworld.com; How Proper Carb-Loading Can Help You Crush Your Next Race

bmj.com; White rice consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: meta-analysis and systematic review

healthline.com; Phytic Acid 101: Everything You Need to Know

USDA; Rice, brown, long-grain, cooked