The FDA has me scratching my head again. Last month they deemed brown rice to be whole grain. Um, who ever thought it wasn’t a whole-grain food?
From 1991 until now, the FDA, which regulates food labels for all U.S. packaged products, didn’t allow brown rice to use the official whole-grain health claim that oats, barley, popcorn, whole-wheat bread, and other chosen grains have been putting on their packages and in advertising: “Diets rich in whole-grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.”
To be a whole grain in the eyes of the FDA, a food must contain bran, germ, and endosperm (bran and germ are stripped away in products such as in white flour). Brown rice has all these components. The snag? When the FDA made its initial ruling, there was a minimum fiber content requirement that kept brown rice out of the club. Now research shows that the health benefits of whole grains are independent of their fiber content.
So on May 6 the FDA finally approved the whole-grain health claim for brown rice, recognizing brown rice as a 100% whole-grain food despite its lower fiber content.
Eight in 10 Americans know that whole grains are beneficial, but about two-thirds of us aren’t meeting our quota of at least three servings a day, according to a USA Rice Federation survey. Take note: Just one cup of cooked brown rice provides two of three daily whole-grain servings.
Here are a few ways I include brown rice in my diet, wherever I am. Let me know how you get yours.
1. At home: The Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer prepares perfect brown rice. I simply add rice and water and set the timer it the a.m., and the rice is ready for whatever time I need it in the p.m.
2. At work: Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice Whole Grain Brown are a quick, mess-free option. Just microwave the rice in its pouch for 90 seconds and you’ve got a warm, healthy snack.
3. Out and about: The P.F. Chang’s China Bistro chain, selected as one of America’s Healthiest Restaurants by Health magazine, serves brown rice standard with their excellent dishes.
By Julie Upton
(PHOTO: ISTOCK)
Related Links:
Comments (2)
don’t know when this was posted but i had the same first thought as julie: since when was brown rice NOT considered a whole grain.
but i am glad to know that Uncle Ben’s micro brown is at least a decent option. i’ve been wondering
also, Trader Joe’s has frozen micro brown rice (i think 3 min) and an aseptic bowl of brown rice on the dry pasta section that’s really good. (i think one min in the micro.)
I love brown rice! because of migraines and diverticulitis I have switched the past couple of months to eat brown rice instead of white rice, and also I am getting my fiber from rice instead of just relying on whole wheat and bran breads. My digestive system seems cured now after at least 4 times a week of 1 cup of brown rice, and for cereal I eat the Arrowhead Mills puffed brown rice (I love that this cereal has just 1 ingredient, NO sugar added, NO preservatives and it’s so cheap!) What I love the most about brown rice is that I feel happy lately!! All in my life is the same, but eating whole grains truly affects your mood! it does make you feel happier, when I told this to a co-worker, she wasn’t surprised, she said that her bi-polar son is prescribed at least 1 cup of brown rice a day to enhance his mood. Who would’ve thought that brown rice is more powerful than anti-depressants and surely not harmful but on the contrary. Ah! also my migraines are now less often and less strong. Also I’ve been learning that if you pre-germinate the rice before cooking it, by soaking it in warm water for about 20 hours, then the benefits are even higher!