Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : December 19, 2014 5:21 PM IST
तांदूळ – तांदळात ग्ल्यॅसमिक निर्देशांक अधिक असल्याने शरीर त्याला लगेचच साखरेत रुपांतरीत करते. पेशींमध्ये ही साखर मिसळल्याने रक्तातील साखरेचे प्रमाणदेखील वाढते. तांदूळ (भात) शरीराला कर्बोहायड्रेट्चा पुरवठा करीत असला तरी गर्भवती स्त्रियांनी तांदळाचा अतिप्रमाणात समावेश करणे टाळावा
Rice is the staple food of most Indians and more than half of the world s population consume rice every day. It acts as a major source of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. But there s something nasty about rice, it can harbour various contaminants posing a threat to your health. Here are some common contaminants in rice which you should be aware of.
Arsenic
Arsenic, a metal, is one of the common contaminants of rice as it occurs naturally in the soil and water. (1 ) As rice is grown under water, it takes up ten times more arsenic as compared to other cereals. The metal also gets accumulated in the husk (outer covering of the seed) and during the milling process, husk is removed from the seed. However, brown rice has high levels of arsenic as compared to white rice, making them a cause of concern to include in your diet. Chronic exposure to arsenic might lead to certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and skin lesions.
Mineral oil
Rice is commonly packed in jute sacks, which contains the common contaminants in the form of mineral oil (batching oil). Jute fibres are treated with this oil to make them flexible fabrics. When rice is transported in these sacks, it gets contaminated with batching oil, rendering it unsuitable for consumption above quantities greater than 5 and 500 ppm. Studies on mice have shown that the mineral oil has carcinogenic property. (2)
Toxins from bacteria
Aflatoxins are harmful substances produced by bacteria namely Aspergillus species contaminating food commodities like rice. When rice is exposed to heavy rains and high humidity, the condition favours the growth of these bacteria, leading to contamination. Normally, high levels of these toxins are found in rain-damaged rice and parboiled rice, and contain carcinogens and hepatotoxins. (3)
Lead and cadmium
Another common contaminant found in rice are lead and cadmium metals. These are present in high concentrations in milled rice. When consumed in high doses, they cause deleterious effects on the body. (4) Certain fertilizers contain cadmium in undesirable amount, which are absorbed from the soil by the rice grain. The high levels of lead when consumed through diet (such as rice) might damage the brain and cause digestion problems.
Faeces of mice and rats
Rodents such as mice, rats and bandicoots contaminate rice, when it is stored in godowns. Faeces of mice and rats spread bacteria, contaminate the stored rice and trigger allergic reactions in humans when contaminated rice is consumed. Even dried faecal matter and urine of rodents can be hazardous to health. Hantavirus 4 is a potentially life-threatening disease transmitted by rodents.
Chemicals from packaging material
It is a well-known fact that unhygienic processing and improper packaging of rice are culprits that render rice, unfit for consumption. The packaging material that is made up of plastic (rice sacks contain plastic covering), use of inks and adhesives on the packing material, less sensitivity to light, temperature and moisture of packing material causes contamination of rice. The long term use of such packaging material cause several health effects. Read about 5 food packaging materials that can be harmful for your health.
Best practices
Although it is not possible to avoid these common contaminants of rice, you can lower the risk of health effects by following some safe practices:
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