Threat on a plate: everyday product turned out to be poisonous

CAUTION WITH RICE: BIOCHEMIST WARNS ABOUT THE HIDDEN DANGER OF THE POPULAR GRAIN

Well-known biochemist and nutritionist Anna Divinskaya, in an exclusive interview with TUT.AZ, revealed alarming information about the potential threat that ordinary rice may pose. According to the expert, some varieties of this common grain can accumulate arsenic - a toxic element with serious consequences for human health.

The specialist explained the mechanism of contamination: arsenic penetrates soil and water bodies as a result of industrial activities and intensive use of pesticides in agriculture. Rice, due to its biological characteristics, actively absorbs substances from the environment, making it a kind of "accumulator" of toxins in environmentally unfavorable regions.

Divinskaya provided scientific evidence of the problem, referring to studies by the University of California in 2018, during which scientists found excess concentrations of arsenic in certain varieties of rice.

However, the expert offers simple but effective ways to minimize risks. She recommends:

thoroughly washing rice before cooking;

boiling it in a large volume of water for five minutes;

then draining the water, rinsing again, and finishing cooking in clean water.

The nutritionist also notes that white rice is safer than brown rice, as the polishing process removes the outer shell of the grain, where most of the toxic substances are concentrated.

Divinskaya pays special attention to the origin of the product: domestic rice varieties deserve more trust thanks to strict Russian standards for controlling soil and agricultural product contamination.

Conclusion: rice remains a valuable food product if you approach its selection and preparation with attention.