arsenic in... RICE ?

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Replies

  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Media overblown scare tactics.
  • iampanda
    iampanda Posts: 176 Member
    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
    It seems to be a residue left in the soil from using artificial fertilizers. Another good reason to EAT ORGANIC!!!
  • Penfoldsplace
    Penfoldsplace Posts: 159
    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.
  • bleacheblonde
    bleacheblonde Posts: 333
    I wouldnt worry about it....I have eaten so much rice in my time- in my bodybuilding days I would eat 8-10 cups of rice a day and did that for 20 plus years.

    ZOMG how are you not dead??? Perhaps you could make some money selling a vaccine made of your saliva or something, because you must have some sort of immunity :tongue:
  • satishchannar
    satishchannar Posts: 5 Member
    Being from South India me and my whole family eat rice 2 times a day for 7 days a week. We have been using rice for generations. I dont think this arsenic news is true.
  • TK266
    TK266 Posts: 3,638 Member
    but I think the real concern is what farming practices need to change in order to prevent further increase.

    The issue of "increasing arsenic" has less to do with current farming practice then where the rice is being farmed. there were higher level of arsenic in southern grown rice. this is not due to southern farmers using pesticides or unusual farming practices, but due to the fact that rice farming is taking over old cotton farms. residue in the soil from cotton farming practices had caused the up tic in arsenic level. this will fade over time back to natural occurring levels.

    But both rice farmers and food producers are working to make lessen this issue on several levels.

    But I agree that the story is much adieu about nothing. We all have much more to "fear" from a car ride or eating fast food then we do from this issue.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    I've eaten rice a gazillion times in my life, no adverse effects as of yet. There's always some 'alarming' report coming out saying don't eat this or don't eat that. If we took them all to heart there would be nothing left in this world to eat. I'm sure having a bowl of rice once in awhile is not going to do you in.
  • Rogiefreida
    Rogiefreida Posts: 567 Member
    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.

    This is what I was going to say. That, and they didn't come out and say "don't eat rice or rice products" but suggested limiting your intake of rice products. Don't take it from me, take it from them, there's a table at the bottom that has suggested servings per week.
    http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/11/arsenic-in-your-food/index.htm
  • Rdahl2
    Rdahl2 Posts: 90
    Ive heard about this and im not going to stop eating rice either because now these days media and "research" is telling us that alot of things are "bad" for us but we have been eating these foods forever and nothing has happened. If i were to eliminate all the bad I might as well just not eat period lol! Thats just me. :laugh:
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    but I think the real concern is what farming practices need to change in order to prevent further increase.

    The issue of "increasing arsenic" has less to do with current farming practice then where the rice is being farmed. there were higher level of arsenic in southern grown rice. this is not due to southern farmers using pesticides or unusual farming practices, but due to the fact that rice farming is taking over old cotton farms. residue in the soil from cotton farming practices had caused the up tic in arsenic level. this will fade over time back to natural occurring levels.

    But both rice farmers and food producers are working to make lessen this issue on several levels.

    But I agree that the story is much adieu about nothing. We all have much more to "fear" from a car ride or eating fast food then we do from this issue.

    I don't disagree, but where the rice is grown and soil conditions are "farming practices"? I wasn't suggesting anyone was spraying rice with arsenic. Whether the story is much ado about nothing depends on which story you read. There is a concern.
  • peuglow
    peuglow Posts: 684 Member
    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:
    Yes, the inorganic arsenic is found bc it is converted in the chicken's guts. I got that.
  • emnk5308
    emnk5308 Posts: 736
    It isn't just rice.. =/ Do some research. They've found it in little kids apple juice.. :sick: There are no regulations or anything on this kind of thing.
  • MVY_
    MVY_ Posts: 253 Member
    Rice is a part of asian diet and goodness to hear this is veryy veryyy hard. Lol.
  • Jxnsmma
    Jxnsmma Posts: 919 Member
    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:
    Yes, the inorganic arsenic is found bc it is converted in the chicken's guts. I got that.

    Why so hostile dude? I saw it on the news last night too. It stated that north americans that ate rice daily had approximately 44% more arsenic levels in their bodies than ones who didnt eat rice daily. Levels in brown rice were found to be higher than white. It basically said to eat everything in moderation and you'll be fine, which I agree with...
  • Pandorian
    Pandorian Posts: 2,055 Member
    The state of our "media" in presenting these things..


    health update - "rice contains arsenic"
    VERY next article
    Japanese study finds that changing the oils used in cooking can drop blood pressures (drop in the bad cholesterol too)... which oil is suggested? RICE OIL
  • deadheadcheri
    deadheadcheri Posts: 15
    This is why I buy organic and hope like hell that it really is.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    It isn't just rice.. =/ Do some research. They've found it in little kids apple juice.. :sick: There are no regulations or anything on this kind of thing.

    God dammit. That's the last time I steal apple juice off little kids. :mad:

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