According to a dietician, this type of rice that we all eat is the worst for our health

Like pasta, rice is one of those foods that occupy a central place on our plates. Accessible, easy to cook and to integrate into many recipes, this cereal is also very interesting from a nutritional point of view, not all types of rice are equal. Some can even be harmful to health. Indeed, As the dietician-nutritionist explains Laëtitia Proust-Millon in the columns of Top Healthwhen rice undergoes too many processing processes, this can impact its nutritional quality and thus make it harmful to health.

Why should you avoid eating non-organic basmati rice?

“Rice is basically a good grain. Each variety of rice has its own nutritional properties.”says Laëtitia Proust-Millon. However, she warns against intensive production methods that can make certain varieties toxic. Non-organic basmati rice is particularly singled out because of its intensive cultivation, leading to contamination by dangerous pesticides such as tebuconazole and cypermethrin. “A study conducted in 2024 by 30 million consumers showed that basmati rice species were the most contaminated by pesticides”recalls the expert.

Faced with these dangers, it is recommended to favor organic rice, such as organic basmati rice, free of pesticides. Camargue rice, from non-intensive crops, as well as Thai rice, are also healthier alternatives. “It is the production methods and the processing of these varieties of rice that make certain products harmful”adds the specialist. Choosing less processed rice, especially whole and semi-whole, allows you to benefit from a better nutritional intake.

“The more rice is processed, the more its nutritional quality is degraded”

Rice processing also plays a crucial role in preserving its benefits. “The more rice is processed, the more its nutritional quality is degraded”warns Laëtitia Proust-Millon. Refining, in particular, impoverishes rice in fiber and nutrients. White rice, which undergoes complete refining, loses most of its vitamins and minerals, increasing its glycemic index and making its consumption less favorable to health. For these reasons, it is preferable to favor whole or semi-whole rice, but always organic.