Wholegrains any better really? Help please!

Little Acorn

Hi everybody,

I just have a query that I am going to pop up here, but I will be away for the day so won't be able to respond to any replies until tonight.

I've always believed that brown rice is meant to be healthier not just due to higher fibre content, but also due to slightly higher protein and certain mineral levels.

However yesterday a few articles I read on-line seem to dispute this.
They said that although brown rice has more nutrients, the nutrients in white rice were actually more accessible compared to the brown.

This apparently is due to phytates and anti-nutrients being present in the remaining bran in the brown rice grain.
These anti-nutrients are supposed to prevent certain nutrients like protein or minerals being absorbed in the body, so it doesn't matter if brown rice has more nutrients as none or very little of them even get absorbed - so white rice is marginally better.

Is this true?
If it is true how long do these anti-nutrients continue their effect?

-does their effect only apply to the food you are eating right at that time that contains them, or are these anti-nutrients stored in the body for awhile and could they affect protein/vitamin/mineral absorption of foods you eat later that day or food you eat along with the rice such as meat and fruit. etc. ??

Does the same principle apply to all wholegrain foods like breads and pastas too?

Do anti-nutrients affect the fibre content?
If they don't would I be better of to just continue eating wholegrain products as I already rely on other food sources for my proteins, fat and vitamins/minerals?
(This is of course providing that the anti-nutrients don't effect the other foods I eat during the day which is what I'm mainly worried about)

If anybody could answer some of these questions for me, or shed some light on the situation for me I would be extremely grateful.
Will check back on thread later tonight,

Thanks!

Transform

Little Acorn wrote: »

Hi everybody,

I just have a query that I am going to pop up here, but I will be away for the day so won't be able to respond to any replies until tonight.

I've always believed that brown rice is meant to be healthier not just due to higher fibre content, but also due to slightly higher protein and certain mineral levels.

However yesterday a few articles I read on-line seem to dispute this.
They said that although brown rice has more nutrients, the nutrients in white rice were actually more accessible compared to the brown.

This apparently is due to phytates and anti-nutrients being present in the remaining bran in the brown rice grain.
These anti-nutrients are supposed to prevent certain nutrients like protein or minerals being absorbed in the body, so it doesn't matter if brown rice has more nutrients as none or very little of them even get absorbed - so white rice is marginally better.

Is this true?
If it is true how long do these anti-nutrients continue their effect?

-does their effect only apply to the food you are eating right at that time that contains them, or are these anti-nutrients stored in the body for awhile and could they affect protein/vitamin/mineral absorption of foods you eat later that day or food you eat along with the rice such as meat and fruit. etc. ??

Does the same principle apply to all wholegrain foods like breads and pastas too?

Do anti-nutrients affect the fibre content?
If they don't would I be better of to just continue eating wholegrain products as I already rely on other food sources for my proteins, fat and vitamins/minerals?
(This is of course providing that the anti-nutrients don't effect the other foods I eat during the day which is what I'm mainly worried about)

If anybody could answer some of these questions for me, or shed some light on the situation for me I would be extremely grateful.
Will check back on thread later tonight,

Thanks!

1. get most of your fibre from e.g. fruit and veg

2. Overall nutrition matters most

3. Mentally stressing about ANY food or stress in general will kill you quicker than ****ty foods

4. Eat basmati rice and take digestive enzymes (really cheap) if you are really concerned

5. If you are still eating wheat (in any form i.e. brown, white, blue bread then eliminate that first

Little Acorn

Thanks for reply Transform.

I don't want to eliminate wheat. I eat extremely little bread anyways. I really love pasta though, I'd say I eat it maybe twice a week. I only eat rice occasionally but was planning on starting to eat more brown rice and switch to brown pasta too.

I agree with you that overall nutrition is what matters most, that's why I was wondering and worried that these things called anti-nutrients would affect the nutrient absorption of the other foods I eat during the day

I don't know if they only affect the nutrient absorption of the rice or whatever that is being eaten right at that time, or if their effect spreads to the other foods that are being eaten with the rice at the time, or foods that might be eaten later in the day such as meat and fruit etc.
I especially wouldn't want my absorption of protein from meat being effected by these things.

I take on board your point though that I am probably wasting too much time worrying about this and shouldn't think about it too much. Thanks again.

Transform

Little Acorn wrote: »

Thanks for reply Transform.

I don't want to eliminate wheat. I eat extremely little bread anyways. I really love pasta though, I'd say I eat it maybe twice a week. I only eat rice occasionally but was planning on starting to eat more brown rice and switch to brown pasta too.

I agree with you that overall nutrition is what matters most, that's why I was wondering and worried that these things called anti-nutrients would affect the nutrient absorption of the other foods I eat during the day

I don't know if they only affect the nutrient absorption of the rice or whatever that is being eaten right at that time, or if their effect spreads to the other foods that are being eaten with the rice at the time, or foods that might be eaten later in the day such as meat and fruit etc.
I especially wouldn't want my absorption of protein from meat being effected by these things.

I take on board your point though that I am probably wasting too much time worrying about this and shouldn't think about it too much. Thanks again.

this might help you understand it better -

http://www.dominicmunnelly.ie/2011/10/if-in-doubt-cut-the-wheat-out/

if you want optimal absorption then eliminating toxins is kind of the first step

Heat_Wave

Transform wrote: »

3. Mentally stressing about ANY food or stress in general will kill you quicker than ****ty foods

That's very interesting. How does that work? Are you saying that if I really really want a muffin with my coffee I'm better off going for it? Sounds ludicrous but you know what I mean, like how do you limit it?

GorillaRising

Heat_Wave wrote: »

That's very interesting. How does that work? Are you saying that if I really really want a muffin with my coffee I'm better off going for it? Sounds ludicrous but you know what I mean, like how do you limit it?

I think he's saying if you really want something then factor it into you diet/macros.

Eating muffins everyday is obviously mental, but one a week on a Friday as a treat is grand - as long as you're working out and eating right 90% of the time.

Transform

GorillaRising wrote: »

I think he's saying if you really want something then factor it into you diet/macros.

Eating muffins everyday is obviously mental, but one a week on a Friday as a treat is grand - as long as you're working out and eating right 90% of the time.

what they said