In my last article I started to write about white rice and brown rice. Is there really a difference between the two? What are the consequences of not knowing the nutritional value of each?
As I stated before, I try as much as possible to eat brown rice. Of course, if my wife and I are at a gathering or in some restaurant, we do eat white rice. There are even some restaurants that allow us to bring our own brown rice. But at home, we strictly eat brown rice.
You may say that’s really carrying this a bit too far. I have a few things in my life that I’m deeply concerned about, and which drive my thoughts. First is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, followed by family, health, and exercise.
I’ve witnessed people die way too early because of the lifestyle they chose to live. Many people tell me, “Well, we all have to die sometime anyway”.
Yes, that’s true, but why do people, upon knowing they are seriously ill, begin running around trying to find a cure? In the process, they spend a lot of money.
Many tell me brown rice is more expensive than white rice. But in the end which is more valuable, your health or your wealth? Health is wealth.
So what is brown rice? Simply put, it is the “unrefined” version of white rice. Brown rice, unlike white rice, still has the side hull and bran. White rice is virtually void of any nutrition, unlike brown rice which is rich in selenium, manganese, antioxidants, high in fiber, and is also a perfect baby food. It is also considered a whole grain.
By law in the U.S., white rice has to be enriched, as all the nutrients have been removed during the processing. Which means that white rice is just a filler.
The problem here in the Philippines is the lack of information to the general public. It’s interesting to note that July is Nutrition Month, observed by all the schools. How much about nutrition is really taught?
I mentioned that there are consequences to what we eat. A major problem in eating too much white rice is the propensity to developing diabetes. Sharecare.com lists the top 10 dangerous foods for diabetics. Among the top 10 are white rice, potatoes, white pasta, artificial sweeteners, and fruit juices. Also refined flour, which is used to make your favorite pan de sal.
What did you notice in this list? White this, white that — which means, no nutrition.
I encourage everyone to take their own health into their own hands. Only you can determine what goes into your mouth. If you have access to the internet, I encourage you to do further research on brown rice, and make a determination for yourself.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S., and a major health issue here in the Philippines.
Another health issue I am concerned about is smoking.
I won’t go into detail now but I wonder what the meaning of “public place” is?
I see bulletins around Dumaguete proclaiming the dangers of smoking, and about an ordinance prohibiting smoking in such places. But as I pass through downtown, I notice individuals sitting in the entrances to certain establishments — and you guessed it — smoking.
If I need to go into these establishments, I have to pass through the smoke generated by these cigarettes.
People who don’t smoke should not have to even breathe second- hand smoke, as it is well known the dangers of this practice.
If someone wants to pollute their own bodies, that’s fine, but it should not affect mine.
Just my thought. God bless and good health!
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Author’s email: HealthAssist@hotmail.com
