Brown Rice versus White Rice; A Healthy Debate

In our previous blog post, we discussed some healthy Chinese options for you at Nashville's E Hur Wei.  One of the biggest diet arguments when you're eating Chinese food stems from the question:

White Rice or Brown Rice? What about Fried Rice? Just... No. You know it's GOOD, but not healthy. But everyone loves fried rice! 

What is the difference between brown and white rice? Aside from the obvious - color. A whole grain of rice has several layers. Only the outermost layer, the hull, is removed to produce what we call brown rice. This process is the least damaging to the nutritional value of the rice and avoids the unnecessary loss of nutrients that occurs with further processing (discussed below). If brown rice is further milled to remove the bran and most of the germ layer, the result is not only a whiter rice, but also a rice that has lost many more nutrients. At this point, however, the rice is still unpolished, and it takes polishing to produce the white rice we are used to seeing. Polishing removes the aleurone layer of the grain--a layer filled with health-supportive, essential fats. Because these fats, once exposed to air by the refining process, are highly susceptible to oxidation, this layer is removed to extend the shelf life of the product. The resulting white rice is simply a refined starch that has basically lost all of its original nutrients.

Fried rice is undeniably bad for you, setting you back 450 calories and 14 grams of fat. Brown rice is better, with only 215 calories and a generous 3.5 grams of fiber per cup. But even though it's trendy to avoid white rice because it's a high-glycemic carb, it's honestly not so bad.

Calorie for calorie, brown and white rice are about the same.

Brown rice is said to reduce diabetes risk while white rice has a few consequence that you may not be aware of. For example, the refining process of white rice includes loss of fiber, vitamins, magnesium and other minerals, lignans, phytoestrogens, and phytic acid, many of which may be protective factors for diabetes risk.

Eating brown rice is usually associated with a health-conscious lifestyle. However, if you're researching brown and white rice, you will find a ton of conflicting information. Some experts say that white rice is in fact healthier for you than brown rice while others swear by brown rice and it's health benefits.

Whichever you prefer, E Hur Wei can cater to your needs! We can be as health-conscious as you'd like with many healthy menu options including gluten-free! Come visit us and see why Yelp reviewers rave about our food! 7075 Memphis-Bristol Hwy.  Nashville, TN 37221 or call in a To-Go order at 615-673-1003.

Our entire menu is accessible online at www.ehurwei.net.