arsenic in... RICE ?

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2

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  • TexasTroy
    TexasTroy Posts: 477 Member
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    WOW, I just did that math on that...an average of 8 cups of rice a day for 20 years is 58, 400 cups of rice...damn, I kept the rice business , in business, lmao.
  • dwtouch4
    dwtouch4 Posts: 98
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    Don't rely on the news for health information. The news media is not a scientific research outlet and they have no qualms about doing shoddy reporting in the name of making a story more interesting.

    A peer reviewed medical journal is the best source of information.
  • anemoneprose
    anemoneprose Posts: 1,805 Member
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    You guys know that arsenic is found naturally in foods, right? Right? And to have any negative effects would be next to impossible, right? Right?

    :grumble:

    Yes, but the report I saw last night said these were not trace amounts. Apparently, it's 'moderate' to 'moderately high' amounts. The wording certainly got my attention.

    How is that graded? Relatively? If this was a danger, 98% of China would have dropped dead. Assuming you are new to fitness/learning about food, my best advice is DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE

    Because 99% of the time it's misleading and/or incorrect.

    Apparently US rice carries "1.5-5x more arsenic than rice from Europe, India, and Bangladesh", because of 1) rice growing conditions (lots of water), 2) the persistence of arsenic from 80s cotton growing, and 3) large scale poultry farming (chicken poop)

    http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/09/waiter-theres-arsenic-my-rice

    It's true that sensationalism usually wins out over fact in news, but it's worth at least looking into the actual story before coming to a conclusion.
  • elenathegreat
    elenathegreat Posts: 3,988 Member
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    Pretty much if Dr Oz says it's bad for you, it's bullcrap. If he says it's good for you, you can bet he's getting paid to do so...this is just the latest hype---remember apple juice?
  • Sarahbara76
    Sarahbara76 Posts: 601 Member
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    You can build a tolerance to arsenic in small doses overtime (so now nobody can kill you with it ) by just eating rice now huh? :laugh: :noway: duly noted ***off to eat some rice***
  • Kikilicious84
    Kikilicious84 Posts: 312
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    You guys know that arsenic is found naturally in foods, right? Right? And to have any negative effects would be next to impossible, right? Right?

    :grumble:

    Yes, but the report I saw last night said these were not trace amounts. Apparently, it's 'moderate' to 'moderately high' amounts. The wording certainly got my attention.
    How is that graded? Relatively? If this was a danger, 98% of China would have dropped dead. Assuming you are new to fitness/learning about food, my best advice is DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE

    Because 99% of the time it's misleading and/or incorrect.


    LOL
  • Penfoldsplace
    Penfoldsplace Posts: 159
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    You would have to eat an impossible amount of rice for this to effect you, sounds like media scaremongering.

    It's all about dosage. I think there are many things in most foods that are bad for us at very high amounts. I mean chocolate contains theobromine which can be poisonous but you would have to eat a shed load of it.
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
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    You guys know that arsenic is found naturally in foods, right? Right? And to have any negative effects would be next to impossible, right? Right?

    :grumble:

    Yes, but the report I saw last night said these were not trace amounts. Apparently, it's 'moderate' to 'moderately high' amounts. The wording certainly got my attention.

    How is that graded? Relatively? If this was a danger, 98% of China would have dropped dead. Assuming you are new to fitness/learning about food, my best advice is DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE

    Because 99% of the time it's misleading and/or incorrect.

    Apparently US rice carries "1.5-5x more arsenic than rice from Europe, India, and Bangladesh", because of 1) rice growing conditions (lots of water), 2) the persistence of arsenic from 80s cotton growing, and 3) large scale poultry farming (chicken poop)

    http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/09/waiter-theres-arsenic-my-rice

    It's true that sensationalism usually wins out over fact in news, but it's worth at least looking into the actual story before coming to a conclusion.

    Exactly. I plan to dig up the original research, but this story is the impetus for me digging deeper into it.

    I worked as a medical information specialist for over 20 years, so I am not inclined to 'believe the hype.' And as for being new to fitness, I've been an avid reader of primary research in health and fitness since the 1970's.
  • Jersey_Devil
    Jersey_Devil Posts: 4,142 Member
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    i saw this on the news yesterday. it was a big headline and then the story was a lot to do about nothing.
  • peuglow
    peuglow Posts: 684 Member
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    You guys know that arsenic is found naturally in foods, right? Right? And to have any negative effects would be next to impossible, right? Right?

    :grumble:

    Yes, but the report I saw last night said these were not trace amounts. Apparently, it's 'moderate' to 'moderately high' amounts. The wording certainly got my attention.

    How is that graded? Relatively? If this was a danger, 98% of China would have dropped dead. Assuming you are new to fitness/learning about food, my best advice is DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE

    Because 99% of the time it's misleading and/or incorrect.

    Apparently US rice carries "1.5-5x more arsenic than rice from Europe, India, and Bangladesh", because of 1) rice growing conditions (lots of water), 2) the persistence of arsenic from 80s cotton growing, and 3) large scale poultry farming (chicken poop)

    http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/09/waiter-theres-arsenic-my-rice

    It's true that sensationalism usually wins out over fact in news, but it's worth at least looking into the actual story before coming to a conclusion.

    I did look into it. Just because I'm not citing an internet reference doesn't mean I didn't do some homework.

    I didn't see anything stating the levels are dangerous and/or deadly. Yes, aresenic is a carcinogen, but so is nearly everything we come in contact with. Levels are are elevated. I see no need to panic, although your link does say to limit your intake (not specifying dry/cooked btw)

    I'm just saying take everything you read with a grain of salt. (Not literally, because salt ... nevermind)
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
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    You guys know that arsenic is found naturally in foods, right? Right? And to have any negative effects would be next to impossible, right? Right?

    :grumble:

    Yes, but the report I saw last night said these were not trace amounts. Apparently, it's 'moderate' to 'moderately high' amounts. The wording certainly got my attention.
    How is that graded? Relatively? If this was a danger, 98% of China would have dropped dead. Assuming you are new to fitness/learning about food, my best advice is DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE

    Because 99% of the time it's misleading and/or incorrect.

    From what I've read the concern is more that the levels are higher than expected and higher than they have been in the past. The levels are not enough to make eating rice dangerous now but if they continue to rise it could be in the future. The media may spin this to scare people into not eating rice, but I think the real concern is what farming practices need to change in order to prevent further increase.
  • rachelbethany
    rachelbethany Posts: 211 Member
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    Because it's found in soil, arsenic is naturally found in ALL kinds of things, including apples, grapes, soy beans, etc. All plants pick up arsenic. I've heard that rice can contain more, because of the way it's grown flooded with water, but I think as long as you aren't eating it every day for every meal, you will be fine. You can't just cut out all things exposed to it, or you'd be left with no nutritious options!
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
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    My parents and aunties/uncles have been eating rice sold in the west every day for at least 50 years. They all appear to not be suffering from arsenic poisoning so I won't get worried about eating rice.
  • OnTheRoadToMe
    OnTheRoadToMe Posts: 6
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    I love rice, and eat loads of it. *And have done for as long as. It hasn't done me any harm. :)
  • SheilaN1976
    SheilaN1976 Posts: 266 Member
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    they reported about this last night on our local news.........made me glad that i dont eat rice hardly ever
  • Dragonnade
    Dragonnade Posts: 218 Member
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    Arsenic eaters in Styria... little amounts can be good for you. LITTLE being the operative word, but the Styrians with their healthy glows and longevity ate far more arsenic than you'll ever find on the shelves in the UK or USA. It's in everything. And it's really not anything to worry about in such small quantities.

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Arsenic-Century-Victorian-Poisoned/dp/0199605998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348159704&sr=8-1 - Thoroughly recommend this book though. Glorious insight into the remarkable ability of humans to live, despite, well, everything!
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
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    Media overblown scare tactics.
  • iampanda
    iampanda Posts: 176 Member
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    You guys know that arsenic is found naturally in foods, right? Right? And to have any negative effects would be next to impossible, right? Right?

    :grumble:

    Yes, but if you read the article, you would see that the arsenic they found is INORGANIC arsenic. Totally different, FYI. Thought I should clear that up. :smile:
  • RickBriggs
    RickBriggs Posts: 44
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    It seems to be a residue left in the soil from using artificial fertilizers. Another good reason to EAT ORGANIC!!!
  • Penfoldsplace
    Penfoldsplace Posts: 159
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    You guys know that arsenic is found naturally in foods, right? Right? And to have any negative effects would be next to impossible, right? Right?

    :grumble:

    Yes, but the report I saw last night said these were not trace amounts. Apparently, it's 'moderate' to 'moderately high' amounts. The wording certainly got my attention.
    How is that graded? Relatively? If this was a danger, 98% of China would have dropped dead. Assuming you are new to fitness/learning about food, my best advice is DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE

    Because 99% of the time it's misleading and/or incorrect.

    From what I've read the concern is more that the levels are higher than expected and higher than they have been in the past. The levels are not enough to make eating rice dangerous now but if they continue to rise it could be in the future. The media may spin this to scare people into not eating rice, but I think the real concern is what farming practices need to change in order to prevent further increase.

    Totally agree with this last comment. It's important to find this stuff out in order to regulate the industry and ensure things are done properly. What I hate is the way the media take an important piece of research and make it into a scarey "rice is toxic" or rice causes cancer story. It sends out the wrong message.

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