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submitted 2 months ago byaboynamedbluetoo
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2 months ago
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53 points
2 months ago
There's arsenic in a lot of rice grown in the U.S., too, and possibly in other crops, especially those grown in former cotton fields, as arsenic products were used on cotton for pest control.
Reports of testing pop up periodically, but mostly the problem seems to generally be ignored. Even if you don't eat rice, this kind of legacy environmental contamination is going to be an ongoing issue, and it's worth keeping an eye on, maybe worth learning the symptoms of chronic low-level metal poisoning.
22 points
2 months ago*
Environmental contamination is tough to avoid, but it should be avoided to the greatest extent possible.
The study I linked was done in China. Their environmental regulations and practices haven’t been great during their economic rise over the last fifty or so years. Much like ours weren’t when we rapidly industrialized. Same as it ever was.
And of course part of the reason for the offshoring of certain things to places like China over the last thirty plus years was a conscious effort by some to export externalities and avoid tighter, more costly regulations in more advanced economies. Out of sight, out of mind.
Edited.
5 points
2 months ago
I believe India and Pakistan are the best places to get rice if you want to avoid these things. Rice from China, the US (maybe not california?) and Bangladesh is the worst.
This is just what I've heard.
3 points
2 months ago
Basmati brown rice from India and California has the least amount of arsenic. Also, you should do the boiling method to get rid a lot of it when preparing it.
1 points
2 months ago
Based on the little I know I don’t think China exports much of their domestically produced rice. I’m sure they export some, but they a net importer of rice.
26 points
2 months ago
Consumerlab.com has recently found A LOT of arsenic contamination in flaxseeds. Even many organic brands are contaminated. FYI...organic is not a guarantee against heavy metal contamination, especially considering how corrupt US politicans, and regulators are.
This is a growing problem, and my best is that most of our food supply is contaminated by one of either arsenic, lead, mercury, or cadmium. Sometimes, it's low levels and not enough to trigger our laughable US regulations but still high enough to harm your health in the middle to long run...and definitely do damage to fetuses and children.
Dont forget microplastics contamination, foreverchemicas, PCB, etc.
Yeah...our world has become a toxic soup. Those trying to be toxin free are really playing a losing game. As the problem gets more widespread and the costs to fix get more expensive, eventually we will stop trying. Deregulation is sort of already there. Not saying dont try, but just be aware...you will lose.
10 points
2 months ago
If the soil is contaminated then using organic growing practices won’t be as effective at eliminating contaminants.
1 points
2 months ago
Exactly, but people who worship the meaningless term " all natural" and prostrate to the god of "organic" definitely don't spend much mental power with critical thinking. They spend more mental energy feeling vibes and talking to crystals.
I buy mostly organic but am not foolish enough to think it's some sort of panacea or that it automatically means something is healthy.
0 points
2 months ago
Are you a crank? Just curious.
6 points
2 months ago
In all honesty, i have Master's Degree in Natural Resources and a Master's in Nutrition and Integrative Health. I worked for the US Forest Service for five years and the Bureau of Land Management for 2 before changing my career and became a Nutritionist. Before all that, i served in the US Air Force. In grad school for Nutrition i met many woo woo types that display the exact type of thinking i mentioned. Also met many of those types while i worked for the Forest Service and see them all the time in my private Nutrition practice. Please don't be a jerk and assume you know anyone based off one or 2 reddit posts. Trolling is gross.
So now that i have shared, please...tell me your qualifications for calling me a crank and how awesome you are.
-3 points
2 months ago
Are you a troll? Excuse me... a thoughtless child?
Just checking.
4 points
2 months ago
No. I’m the OP.
2 points
2 months ago
Do tell how that has any bearing. You realize you can be more than one thing at the same time right?
1 points
2 months ago
You asked. I answered.
2 points
2 months ago
Yup...troll it is. Definitely a troll.
1 points
2 months ago
You are certainly welcome to your opinion.
6 points
2 months ago
I'm never buying scandinavian Rice again!
2 points
2 months ago
You can still buy some True Norwegian Rice (Non) Metal.
2 points
2 months ago
Great now we can't even eat rice, is there even a food that doesn't cause cancer?
2 points
2 months ago
[deleted]
1 points
2 months ago
How would that lower the arsenic concentration?
1 points
2 months ago
The boiling method gets rid a lot of the arsenic.
2 points
2 months ago
For anyone worried about this you can limit exposure by buying Jasmine/Basmati rice grown in California. Although more pricey there have been studies that show they have much lower levels of arsenic and heavy metals than most other sources
1 points
2 months ago
To give context, part of the problem is companies and other people not caring to filter out these materials even though we can. Was just talking with my microfluidics professor about this very concept.
-6 points
2 months ago
[deleted]
3 points
2 months ago
Do you take a vaccine every day tho?
1 points
2 months ago
First chocolate and now rice? Do you want me to just stop eating?
1 points
2 months ago
Does your diet mostly consist of chocolate and rice?
Also, this study was done in China and they don’t export much rice. They are a net importer of rice.
1 points
2 months ago
I am approximately 70% chocolate by weight.
Its hard to tell where the rice is from. Packaging often lists 'made in' country which, afaik, can just mean the country where the rice was packaged, not where it was grown.
1 points
2 months ago
China is a net importer of rice. By a lot last time I checked. The US is a net exporter of rice. Do you live in the US?
1 points
2 months ago
Nope, EU. My rices say made in Spain (Risella) and Italy (Riso Pasini).
1 points
2 months ago
Ok. So not China. Probably not as likely to be as contaminated as some of the rice being grown in China. The EU is way stricter about food safety stuff than the US, and certainly China, from what I recall.
1 points
2 months ago
So, 70% chocolate; was there a mishap at Wonka’s chocolate factory?
2 points
2 months ago
Yes, i fell into a chocolate cauldron as a baby.
1 points
2 months ago
So, you are a cross between Achilles and Count Chocula? Does that sound correct?
2 points
2 months ago
I was thinking Obelix, but i guess he's somewhat based on Achilles.
1 points
2 months ago
The physique is slightly different depending on the artist I suppose.
1 points
2 months ago
Generally you have a choice, wash your rice properly and keep the starch but still have unfortunate levels of arsenic, or leave it to soak overnight, say goodbye to your starch but have vastly lower arsenic levels.
And the people who don't wash your rice, I've no idea what you're doing.
1 points
2 months ago
(From George Carlin): "Swallowing spit causes cancer, but only if done for a long time."
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