It is not enough to rinse, this is the best way to eliminate arsenic from rice

It is not enough to rinse, this is the best way to eliminate arsenic from rice

A quick rinse under running water is not enough to eliminate traces of arsenic from the rice: here are all the steps to follow

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THEarsenic it is a toxic substance widely present in nature, in water or soil, which is however also produced by human activities. All of us are exposed to arsenic contamination through the water we drink and the consumption of certain foods - including milk and dairy products, wheat and, above all, rice: these products derive their content from soils and aquifers that are particularly rich in inorganic arsenic. .





Rice is an inexpensive and highly versatile cereal, which can be used in a thousand sweet and savory recipes; it is also suitable for celiacs, as it is gluten-free. But as it needs a lot of water to grow, it is one of the most exposed to arsenic contamination, as several studies conducted in recent years have now shown. So how can we avoid the risks of arsenic contamination when we cook it at home? Many recommend rinsing the raw cereal under water before proceeding with cooking to eliminate traces of the toxic substance, but this is not enough: let's see what to do together.

Arsenic in Rice: Should You Worry?

How to eliminate arsenic from rice

There are two actions that can help us to significantly reduce the amount of arsenic present in our rice: soaking and cooking with plenty of water. In fact, if we intend to cook rice, immerse it in plenty of water and leave it to soak for a whole night, then drain it and rinse it under running water: in this way we will already eliminate more than 80% of the arsenic present.

When we put the rice in cooking, remember to add five or six parts of water for each part of the cereal: in this way we will avoid that the rice, during cooking, absorbs all the water present in the pot. According to experts, with this simple trick we can eliminate up to 57% of arsenic.

At the end of cooking, drain our rice and rinse it one last time with hot water, to eliminate even the last traces of arsenic that the cereal has released and that have deposited in the cooking water. (Also read: Be careful, leftover rice could be very bad for you if you don't store it properly)


Alternatives to rice

To avoid the risk of excessive arsenic intake, we can alternate the types of rice that we consume in our diet, introducing other varieties of this cereal with a lower content of inorganic arsenic. For example, one study conducted a few years ago in the United States revealed that brown rice has generally greater amounts of arsenic than refined rice, since the substance is mostly found in the bran.


We can therefore choose to consume white and non-wholemeal rice more often (even if, by doing this, we would lose all the fiber contribution made by the unrefined cereal), or opt for the many varieties that the market offers - from red rice to black rice. (Venere), from basmati to wild rice.

In addition to this - and for greater safety at the table - experts advise not to eat rice too often, but to replace it with other cereals less rich in arsenic. We can therefore choose to buy bulgur, amaranth, millet, quinoa, spelled, barley, buckwheat, corn flour for polenta: many of these alternatives are gluten-free like rice, and therefore also suitable for celiacs. (Read also: 9 gluten-free cereals that even celiacs can eat)

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