Do You Eat a Lot of Rice? Read This

Rice is a staple food for many people. It’s widely used in Asian dishes, but it also serves as a side for dinners and lunches throughout the world. For many, it's a part of a regular diet, but it may be time to re-think that. Rice contains low levels of arsenic and that could be harmful to our health. 

Arsenic Toxicity Symptoms

Arsenic is a natural element found in soil, sediments and groundwater. It can also be found in certain foods. It contributes to thousands of premature deaths annually. Exposure over a period of time can lead to poisoning symptoms, such as:

• Abdominal discomfort including nausea and vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Tingling in the extremities
• Skin changes; warts or lesions
• Red and swollen skin

Experiencing any of these symptoms should prompt a call to a healthcare provider to narrow down the cause. But rice, really? Yeah, for some.

How Much is Too Much?

Reducing the amount of rice-based foods we consume, especially brown rice, which contains a higher level of arsenic than white rice, is the best way to decrease consumption. 

According to Consumer Reports, Basmati rice from California has some of the lowest arsenic amounts, while rice varieties from Texas seem to have the highest levels. 

The FDA monitors arsenic in rice as a naturally occurring element. But it’s difficult to regulate because it can’t be entirely removed from the food supply. The FDA recommends that consumers limit their arsenic exposure, including rice products. 

Is Arsenic Only Found in Rice?

Rice is a common source of arsenic, absorbed mainly from the soil and groundwater where it’s grown. But we are exposed to other sources of arsenic, including:

• Smoking tobacco (and second-hand smoke)
• Working and/or living in or near industrial areas
• Breathing in dust and smoke for items treated with arsenic materials
• Exposure to landfills or waste sites

Keep in mind that other foods also may contain arsenic in small amounts, including animal products and seafood.

How to Diagnose Arsenic Poisoning

It's important to talk to a doctor if we suspect arsenic poisoning from rice or any other source. This will help with proper treatment and assist doctors with finding the trigger so future exposure can be prevented. A simple blood test can detect arsenic, but it can also be found in:

• Urine
• Hair
• Fingernails

Urine detects arsenic exposure that occurred recently, while other test methods can test long-term exposure for up to six months. Based on testing, healthcare teams can come up with the best treatment plan moving forward. 

Complications from Arsenic

In addition to the troubling side-effects of arsenic, there can be long-term complications. These include:

• Several types of cancer, including lung, liver, prostate and bladder

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Neurotoxicity
• Birth defects
• Developmental delays in children

Early testing and diagnosis as well as coordination with healthcare specialists may prevent severe complications or even death. 

Arsenic poisoning from rice sounds scary, and it is. But if the signs of toxicity are recognized early, the treatment is more likely to be successful. Our best bet is to stay vigilant about where our food comes from, limit foods known to contain arsenic and to minimize our overall exposure from other sources. We probably shouldn't eat rice with every meal and to instead remember to enjoy it in moderation, like most things.

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