What Is The Healthiest Type Of Rice?

by Sophia Jones Realtor & Real Estate Agent

Rice is possibly the most important staple in India and beyond. There is more than a dozen way that rice is consumed in different parts of India. In the past three decades, dieticians have often been advised to cut down on rice and switch to low wheat-based food. The reason is rice has higher carbohydrates – which can vary depending on the type of rice.

Types of Rice

In India, there are more than 20 varieties of rice consumed in different regions. Some commonly consumed rice are Basmati, Sona Masuri, Ponni, Atop, Gobindobhog, and brown rice. The list is however not exhaustive. All of them vary in texture, size, color, taste, aroma, and also the time of cooking. Also, some are sold unpolished. The use of them also varies, while some varieties can be used to make sweet dishes, some might be used only to savories.

Before we discuss what the healthiest type of rice is, we will quickly highlight what are the benefits of consuming rice.

Due to high carb content, rice-based dishes enable the body to work longer. It not only allows one to sustain for long, but rice also has some amazing minerals and vitamins. Iron, Vitamin B, magnesium are just a few to name. It is also gluten-free and easy to digest. Unpolished rice, brown rice has high fiber content. So often it is advised to consume organic brown rice.

Though it is a debatable topic as to which is the healthiest type of rice, still we attempt to give a neutral opinion. It may be noted that consumers might be used to consuming locally produced rice. Availability of different types of rice used to be a constraint until online shopping came. Now one can buy any variety of rice online.

Also, there are debates about the way rice is cooked. The traditional Indian way of cooking rice is now claimed to be healthier than rice cooked in rice cookers or pressure cooked. The Indian way of cooking in a vessel is considered healthy as it drains maximum starch produced while cooking. More starchy rice is known to add weight to the body.

Also, if you want to consume less starchy rice, then you might have to give up short-grain rice, they are starchier than long grain rice (eg. Basmati).

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Nowadays, there is a divided opinion about the use of brown rice in your diet. Those who do not prescribe brown rice replacement, say that though it might be high in fiber content, it might not be easier to digest. Cooking brown rice, both long and short variety takes long, and dieticians suggest it might be harsh on our body to break down to small particles.

Your doctor might recommend you to stay away from rice if you are a borderline diabetic or a diabetic patient. Some varieties of rice have, according to studies, lesser glycemic levels. Brown rice, which has a lesser glycemic count, should be preferred over other polished varieties.

But, all dieticians might agree on one thing – cutting down the quantity of rice intake – as they are high on the carb. All of them also agree over the fact that rice treated with fertilizers and pesticides is less preferable over unpolished, brown organic basmati rice. Likewise, there is divided opinion over genetically modified rice (GMO). In India, however, GMO rice is not allowed to grow.

Now that you have a fair idea about different varieties of rice, you might take a wise decision based on your budget, requirement, food habit, and the way you cook.