Eating More Rice Could Help Fight Obesity, Study Suggests
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Eating rice may help prevent obesity, research suggests.
Experts found that people following a Japanese or Asian-style diet based on rice were less likely to be obese than those living in countries where rice consumption was low.
Researchers said low-carbohydrate diets – which limit rice – are a popular weight-loss strategy in developed countries but the effect of rice on obesity has been unclear.
They looked at rice consumption in terms of grams per day per person and calorie intake in 136 countries.
They also looked at data on body mass index (BMI).
In the UK, people were found to consume just 19g of rice a day, below dozens of other countries including Canada, Spain and the US.
The researchers calculated that even a modest increase in rice consumption of 50g per day per person could reduce the worldwide prevalence of obesity by 1% (from 650 million adults to 643.5 million).
Professor Tomoko Imai, from Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts, Kyoto, Japan, who led the research, said: “The observed associations suggest that the obesity rate is low in countries that eat rice as a staple food.
“Therefore, a Japanese food or an Asian-food-style diet based on rice may help prevent obesity.
“Given the rising levels of obesity worldwide, eating more rice should be recommended to protect against obesity even in western countries.”
Giving possible reasons why rice can help, Prof Imai said rice was low fat, adding: “It’s possible that the fibre, nutrients and plant compounds found in whole grains may increase feelings of fullness and prevent overeating.”
The authors concluded: “The prevalence of obesity was significantly lower in the countries with higher rice supply even after controlling for lifestyle and socioeconomic indicators.”
Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “We have known for centuries that far eastern populations tend to be slimmer than in the west because rice is a staple food, but few obesity specialists may have appreciated why.
“This novel research is the first to hypothesise that we could nail obesity by eating a modest amount more.”
The study was presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Glasgow.
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Good reason for Chinese takeout
We have rice 4 to 5 times a week and have done this for years.
We eat a lot of real wild rice which is one of the basic foods for Ojibwe people.
We are what we eat as can be seen in much of American society...
And aside from being tastier and having more texture wild rice is better for ya than the standard white rice.
Indeed it is Freefaller. I'm actually talking about manoomin and not the wild rice that they sell in stores. This is harvested by hand from the rivers and lakes in Minnesota and parts of Canada. It can be purchased from different Ojibwe bands and it's not inexpensive, around $9 lb.
If you had it there really isn't another other rice that can compare to it...I hope that you've had the real thing.
Nine dollars a pound for rice!
" If I get my second job kids, and start to work 16 hours a day , we'll be able to eat chop suey made with hand harvested wild rice"
lol
If you want great steak you buy the best. If you want the best and most nutritional rice you get real wild rice (manoomin)...When you compare the white rice from a store to real wild rice it's like comparing a McDonalds burger to a steak from Morton's.
I'm sure it is the best. I dont think 9 dollars a pound for rice will work for the average working family though.
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True.
Kavika I'll probably never have an opportunity to try manoomin but I'll certainly keep an eye out for it. Thanks
Actually "Wild Rice" is not rice, its a different type of plant.
Its healthier than true Rice.
And Brown Rice is better than White Rice. (Brown Rice is natural Rice-- they remove much of the nutrition to create White Rice).
So called "Wild Rice" has more protein and more fiber than real Rice...possibly other benefits as well. (IIRC, unlike real Rice, "Wild Rice" does not contain significant amounts of Arsenic, if any).
It's a aquatic grass commonly called a false grain.