Is organic brown rice good for you

Q: Can I eat organic brown rice everyday?

And it doesnt matter whether the rice is organically grown — all rice can still contain arsenic. Instead: Enjoy brown rice as one of many whole grains in your meal plans a few times a week, but not daily. Swap it out for low-arsenic grains, such as quinoa, barley, buckwheat and millet.

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Brown rice is a good source of health-beneficial nutrients such as fiber, phytochemicals and essential minerals. Organic brown rice may possess more health benefits than conventionally-grown brown rice, as certified organic products, compared to conventional food crops, contain lower levels of agricultural chemicals that may harm health; however, there is no concrete evidence that organic foods are more nutritious than regular foods.

Nutritional Value of Brown Rice

Brown rice is high in nutrients, while low in calories, making it a very healthy food. Brown rice is a whole grain that can be used to meet the USDA's dietary recommendations of three daily servings of whole grains -- each 1/2 cup of brown rice is equal to 1 serving of whole grains. Whole grains like brown rice are rich in fiber, which may reduce heart disease and risks for certain cancers, while also promoting good digestion and a healthy weight. Brown rice is also rich in essential minerals including magnesium and manganese, as well as bioactive phytonutrients such as lignans, phytoestrogens and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, brown rice is a gluten-free food that contains no trans fat or cholesterol and only trace amounts of fat and sodium.

Organic Health Benefits

Eating organic brown rice may confer additional health benefits compared to eating non-organic rice. It's not yet clear whether organic foods are unilaterally more nutritious than non-organic foods, but they do contain less pesticides and food additives. Compared to organic food crops, conventionally-grown crops contain significantly more pesticide residues, which, depending on the type of pesticide and your level of exposure, may harm health. Organic foods, such as organic brown rice, are also less processed than non-organic foods, meaning they contain less artificial colorings, flavorings, sweeteners, and preservatives, some of which are thought of as harmful to your health. Rice, in particular, loses health benefits during processing -- when its outer husk is removed during the refinement process, the rice loses fiber content.

Other Benefits of Organic Foods

Besides the potential health benefits of organic foods, some people buy organically-grown foods, including organic brown rice, for environmental and other reasons. Organic farming practices help benefit the environment by reducing pollution from agricultural chemicals and conserving water and soil quality. Organically grown foods also have a smaller carbon footprint than conventionally-grown foods; according to Organic.org, organic farms use, on average, about 30 percent less energy than conventional farms. Moreover, some people prefer the taste of organic foods to conventionally-grown ones.

Considerations

If you want to make sure you are buying certified organic brown rice, it's important to pay attention to the label. For example, just because a food is labeled as "natural" doesn't mean it's organic -- only foods that are grown and processed according to USDA organic standards can be labeled organic. These foods will display an official USDA seal certifying that the product is organic. A common downside with organic foods is cost, as organic foods may cost significantly more than their conventional counterparts. To avoid digestive problems, such as gas or bloating, from eating high-fiber foods such as brown rice, it is important to drink plenty of water.

References

Writer Bio

Shannon George, former editor-in-chief of the trade magazine "Prime," holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from San Diego State University. Her health interests include vegetarian nutrition, weight training, yoga and training for foot races.

First of All, What Is Brown Rice Protein?

Brown rice protein is a protein supplement that’s essentially a powdered version of brown rice. It’s produced through a process that separates the carbs from the protein to extract all the good stuff — namely, the plant-based protein and other important nutrients.

Technically speaking, the protein concentration of brown rice protein is approximately 36% essential amino acids and 18% branched-chain amino acids by weight. (We’ll talk more about BACCs later.) This places the amount of protein on par with what you’d get from cooked brown rice. But there are a lot more ways to enjoy it beyond a basic rice bowl.

Is There Really Organic Brown Rice Protein in a Perfect Bar?

Now, you might be thinking — how is there rice in a Perfect Bar? After all, it’s a fudgy peanut butter bar, not a crispy rice treat!

As a matter of fact, the protein in our protein bars comes from a variety of whole food sources like organic nut butter, milk, and egg — along with organic brown rice.

Your taste buds might pick up on the Fair Trade dark chocolate chips, creamy organic nut butters, and seasonal spices. But you’re actually consuming a well-rounded package of nutrients in every perfectly balanced bite. We use a hidden blend of 20-plus superfood ingredients in every Perfect Bar flavor.

1. Plays Well With Other Proteins

If you’re just looking at brown rice protein powder on its own, keep in mind that this is an incomplete protein. This means, like other plant proteins, brown rice doesn’t contain all of the nine essential amino acids your body needs to thrive.

If you’re mixing brown rice protein powder into a homemade shake — say, as a post-workout snack or meal replacement — you can combine it with pea protein to get the complete protein package with all nine essential amino acids. This combo can also be good for muscle building: Brown rice protein is relatively low in lysine, an amino acid known for supporting muscle growth, but pea protein has this in higher quantities.

If you just need a quick grab-and-go snack, we’re here to save you the trouble of having to portion out each protein. In every Perfect Bar recipe, we combine organic brown rice protein with other whole food protein ingredients like milk and egg, as well as a blend of superfood greens, seeds, and oils. This way, you can be sure your protein intake includes all the essential amino acids, from a variety of high-quality, whole food sources!

2. Muscle Master

Although brown rice protein may not be a star player for muscle growth, it’ll always have your back for muscle power and recovery. It’s a good source of leucine, which is one of the three branched-chain amino acids, along with isoleucine and valine. This trio makes up about 35% of the amino acids in the human body’s muscle proteins.

BACCs help regulate the body’s glycogen stores so the muscles have a steady source of fuel to draw from. When you’re pushing your muscles to their limits, they can help prevent your system from going into overdrive and using up muscle proteins — instead of glycogen — as an energy source.

Post-workout, leucine can also help promote muscle recovery, especially when it’s consumed with carbohydrates. This is why snacks enriched with brown rice protein can be good to eat after a workout.

3. Whole Grain Goodness

Compared to white rice, organic brown rice protein offers a more complete nutritional package. With brown rice, all three parts of the rice grain are kept intact.

The outermost layer is the bran, which is rich in fiber. In the middle there’s the endosperm, a source of protein and starchy carbohydrates. Finally, there’s the germ — that part that a new rice plant could sprout from. This is a nutritious nugget of healthy fats, B vitamins, and other micronutrients along with protein.

When converted into brown rice protein powder, the carbohydrates are split apart from the rest, but you’re still consuming a whole grain protein source.

4. A Victory for Vegetarians

Since it’s derived from a grain rather than an animal source, brown rice protein is a popular choice for people looking for a vegetarian or vegan protein supplement. It’s easy to mix in with other plant-based ingredients for a protein-rich and meatless meal or snack.

Our Perfect Bar products contain eggs, milk, and honey, so they aren’t vegan — but they do make a great vegetarian snack!

5. Hypoallergenic Hype

As a standalone product, brown rice protein is a hypoallergenic option for people with various food allergies and sensitivities. For lactose intolerant folks, it’s a good dairy-free alternative to milk-based products like casein or whey protein. It’s also a welcome option for people with soy allergies, and it’s a gluten-free choice making it suitable for people with celiac disease.

Here’s where we have to make an allergy disclaimer: If you have sensitivities to milk, eggs, peanuts, or tree nuts, be sure to read our Perfect Snacks food labels closely, since we use those ingredients in our products.

6. Low-Key Flavor

People looking for a mix-in protein supplement sometimes often find other products can come on a bit too strong in terms of flavor. But, much like cooked brown rice, its protein powder counterpart has a pretty neutral flavor.

This makes it a good candidate for mixing into protein shakes or, as we’ve found, blending into protein bars. The best-tasting ingredients, like peanut butter and dark chocolate, can take center stage while you still get all the nutritional goodness of organic brown rice protein.

7. Metabolism Booster

Brown rice protein takes some energy to digest, meaning your body keeps using up calories longer after you’ve finished eating. A study that tested the effects of protein in a high-fat diet revealed that, compared to casein, the peptides in brown rice protein can help reduce weight gain by 76%. In general, brown rice protein can be a suitable protein source for people interested in weight management.

8. Easy to Enjoy

There are so many ways to get all the benefits of brown rice protein in your diet. You can add a scoop to a smoothie or shake, muffin mix, savory soup or any other recipe that could use a boost of plant-based protein.

But consuming organic brown rice protein doesn’t need to be a workout in and of itself! You can pick up a Perfect Bar when you need a quick and satiating snack with a nutty flavor and cookie-dough texture that really hits the spot.

If your snack stash is starting to look a little weak, bulk up with a box of Perfect Bar. Browse our selection of fridge-fresh, grab-and-go snacks online or check out our handy store locator to find a retailer near you.

Want more health hacks and wellness insights? We got you covered. You'll also receive a code for 15% off your first order!

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Can I eat organic brown rice everyday?

And it doesn't matter whether the rice is organically grown — all rice can still contain arsenic. Instead: Enjoy brown rice as one of many whole grains in your meal plans a few times a week, but not daily. Swap it out for low-arsenic grains, such as quinoa, barley, buckwheat and millet.

Is organic brown rice good for weight loss?

Brown rice contains more fiber than refined grains like white rice. Choosing fiber-rich whole grains like brown rice may reduce belly fat and help you lose weight.

What is the healthiest brown rice you can buy?

Lundberg Family Farms Organic Long-Grain Brown Rice Their organic long-grain brown rice is one of the best on the market, as it's certified organic, certified gluten-free, and non-GMO verified. It's also free of any additives and contains only one ingredient — organic long-grain brown rice.

What is the healthiest organic rice?

Therefore, choosing whole-grain brown, red, black, or wild rice is an excellent choice for health. Plus, these varieties are richer in disease-fighting antioxidants. Consuming a diet high in antioxidant-rich foods can benefit health in many ways.

organic brown rice good