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Health Incorrectly prepared rice contains injurious arsenic
There are many dishes in the world that contain rice or use it as a side dish. Rice is one of the staple foods used daily in India, China and Japan. Researchers found that the type of preparation greatly influences whether or not we absorb harmful chemicals through the consumption of rice in our bodies.
The scientists at Queens University Belfast in England now found out in an investigation that the wrong way rice is made causes harmful chemicals to enter our bodies. This can lead to health problems and serious illnesses. The doctors published a press release on the results of their study.
The preparation of rice can, however, have a significant influence on the arsenic contained. Rice should at best be soaked in water overnight. Picture: sattriani - fotolia Rice is a staple food in many countries
Rice is an important staple food in some countries around the world. One of these countries is India. Without the daily dose of rice, many people would starve to death and the effects would probably be so severe that it shook the entire economic Indian system. Rice is also used in many other countries to produce regional specialties or staple foods.
How can you process rice??
Rice can be prepared in a variety of ways. Probably the most common method is cooking. The rice is cooked in hot water. This method has been the most common for centuries, say the authors. But there are other ways of preparation: Rice, for example, watered and then processed as a dough. Or the rice is crushed and then used as a coarse powder, the researchers explain. But what kind of preparation or processing is the healthiest for humans?
Industrial toxins and pesticides in the soil contaminate the rice
According to the latest study by experts from Queens University Belfast, chemicals from industrial toxins and pesticides in soil contaminate rice. This endangers the health of millions of people worldwide. There are already several studies on the harmful effects of pesticides. These discovered how the chemicals enter our food and lead to various diseases.
Rice often contains arsenic
Which dangerous chemical does rice actually contain? The answer is arsenic. This chemical element usually occurs in combination with sulfur and metals in many minerals, explain the physicians. Industrially, it is often used in the manufacture of pesticides and insecticides. But also the groundwater of different countries in the world contains high amounts of natural arsenic.
How does arsenic get into the human body??
Contaminated water or food, the chemical then enters the human body, say the scientists. So a so-called arsenic poisoning can be triggered. This causes vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. But arsenic can also lead to cancer and skin lesions. According to the World Health Organization, long-term exposure to arsenic has also been linked to developmental effects, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity and diabetes.
Improper agricultural practices increase the arsenic content in rice
Several studies have already suggested that improper farming practices can increase the arsenic content in rice. If the rice is not prepared in the right way, it can lead to dangerous health risks, explain the authors.
How do I avoid arsenic poisoning??
It is important to soak the rice in water overnight. Thus, the probability of arsenic poisoning can be reduced, say the medical profession. In this way, the risks of heart disease, diabetes and cancer can be better managed. By soaking, the toxin level has been reduced by about 80 percent.
The least amount of arsenic contains rice soaked in water overnight
The scientists investigated three different ways of cooking rice. One of the preparation methods used a ratio of two parts of water and one part of rice. In this method, the rice is steamed by the water. The second type of preparation uses five parts of water and one part of rice. The rice is then washed off. This type of preparation almost halves the level of arsenic. In the third method, the rice is soaked overnight in water. Thus, the concentration of the toxin could be reduced by 80 percent, explain the authors. The results of the study suggest that the way rice is boiled can be a key factor in reducing exposure to the toxic and naturally occurring chemical. (As)