Rice may be the grain worth sticking with
June 20, 1996From Correspondent Eugenia Halsey
(CNN) -- Rice has been growing in popularity in American diets, thanks to its low-calorie, low-fat profile. And now research suggests the grain may have added health benefits.
A study indicates a diet that includes lots of rice may be healthier than one based on wheat foods such as pasta, bread, and cereal.
The Cornell University study of more than 3,000 women living in different parts of rural china found those whose diets were made up largely of rice had blood chemistries that have been linked to lower rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Researchers say some forms of rice contain a starch called amylose. Recent studies have shown amylose appears to slow the amount of sugar absorbed in the blood, which may lead to lower disease rates.
"Rice and wheat stood out like sore thumbs. It was really, really strong, the information. We saw other things, we saw fish and green vegetables, but rice versus wheat was the strongest correlate with insulin-resistant risk," said Cornell's Jeffrey Gates..
Insulin resistance is associated with the development of several chronic diseases, including the most common type of diabetes, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, which affects about 13 million Americans.
But some nutrition experts say the new study doesn't necessarily mean Americans should start trading pasta for rice.
The Cornell researchers admit that other factors such as fat and exercise might account for the difference in disease risk among Chinese women.
Still, they say, rice's role in a healthy diet deserves a closer look.
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