Rice consumption allows athletes to boost their performance and stay fueled throughout their training because it's a nutrient-dense, complex carbohydrate. These types of carbohydrates are digested slowly which allows athletes to remain energized for extended periods of time or at a higher density. .
Many bodybuilders and athletes prefer white rice because of its higher sugar content and faster absorption to support training and muscle growth, but there isn't any research to suggest brown rice is inferior for these purposes.
Intense workouts significantly deplete sugar (glycogen) in your muscles and eating the right carbohydrates are important to replenish what has been used. Athletes prefer white rice as a great carbohydrate choice to accomplish this goal. White rice ranks high on the glycemic index.
Rice is a classic bodybuilding food, but white and brown rice have different benefits. Both are great sources of carbs, but white rice causes more of an insulin spike due to its very low fiber and fat content. Brown rice also increases insulin release, but the fiber and fats help reduce this.
Consuming white rice as a main carbohydrate source for athletes comes down to a matter of replenishing glycogen levels and helping to provide quick bursts of energy. This is helpful for those who are resistance training as well as endurance athletes as well.
Varieties of brown rice such as Jasmine or Basmati still contain their germ and bran layers, meaning they provide fitness buffs with a range of important nutrients including B vitamins, bone-building phosphorus, and magnesium.
We're not talking toxic levels in one serving or anything scary like that, but eating rice a few times a day (every day) is not a good idea. Excess arsenic is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.
However, whole-grain varieties of jasmine rice, which range in color from brown to red to black, may be a healthier option than white rice. That's because they contain more fiber, nutrients, and beneficial plant compounds.
One of the main reasons bodybuilders eat rice and chicken is because it's cheap, clean, and incredibly good for building muscle. This is because it gives a good mix of carbs to replenish the muscles right after a workout, with a ton of protein to start the muscle-building process as well.
Japanese people stay lean despite eating lots of white rice because they're unafraid of it. They have a relationship with it where it neither scares nor intimidates them — instead of avoiding it, they enjoy it in moderate portions, with different vegetables, filling fats, and nourishing proteins.
Most Japanese meals are served with plain white rice in its own bowl (called an ochawan) and the non-rice items (called okazu) on separate dishes. While it's OK to pick up the rice bowl in your hand, the other plates should stay on the table, as you use your chopsticks to pluck up the piece you're about to eat.
While Japan takes great pride in its unique white rice, it wasn't always the way it is today. Originally unprocessed brown rice was the main staple of Japanese farmers. But, with the introduction of more advanced processing methods, over time pure white rice began to be seen as a symbol of status and power in Japan.
White rice is an excellent source of manganese, providing over 30% of the daily value (DV). It is also a good source of iron, providing 2.7mg or 15% of the DV. White rice also supplies B vitamins (especially thiamin, but also niacin and riboflavin).
Many people consider white rice an “empty” or “bad” carb since it loses nutrients when the bran and germ are removed. However, white rice is typically enriched with added nutrients such as iron and B vitamins. So while brown rice does have more nutrients than white rice, white rice is still considered nutritious.
It is also plays a prime role in muscle protein synthesis. White rice, just like any other high GI carbohydrates shoots up the insulin, just what's exactly needed after a taxing workout to replenish muscle glycogen stores. This makes it a go to post-work-out-meal staple.
Bottom line: Brown rice or white? The answer really depends on your personal circumstances and preferences. In terms of health, if you have type 2 diabetes, prediabetes or other blood-sugar concerns, you'd want to choose brown rice. But, if you need to follow a low-fiber diet, white rice would be a better option.
You could also have fish, chicken, or turkey along with rice for carbs. Start with six ounces of meat (cooked) and one cup of rice. Over time, work up to eight ounces of meat and two cups of rice. The point of this isn't so much to increase caloric intake as it is to maximize timing.
Pasta is a great source of carbs and protein
And this is the best advantage of pasta. After all, if you dine on pasta 2.5-3 hours before a workout, you will get a very good portion of calories and carbs. 250 grams of boiled pasta contain as much as 77 g of carbohydrates.
Most types of rice, particularly white rice, have a high glycemic index, basmati rice is much lower on the scale. With a glycemic index between 50 and 58, basmati rice is a low to medium glycemic index food. If you have diabetes, small portions of basmati rice can be a part of your healthy diet.
Basmati is a go-to choice for pilaf, biryani, plov, the classic Persian dish called chelow and as a base for curry. Jasmine is a top pick for fried rice, com do (Vietnamese red rice) and hung kao mung gati (Thai coconut rice).
Jasmine Rice, 1 Cup (Cooked)
Basmati rice is a bit leaner and mean, and probably the better pick for calorie counters.
While Japanese people eat rice daily. It is an essential food for most of their meals. Plus, it is cooked without butter or salt, so Japanese people are able to keep their slim figures. The Japanese diet mostly avoids junk foods and high-calorie.
Yes, most Asian people eat rice every day; some of us even have rice three times a day. However, that does not mean we can only eat white rice. Rice can be cooked in so many different ways, and it all tastes good.
White rice has a higher glycemic index, which means its carbs convert more quickly into blood sugar than brown rice. Higher intakes of white rice may result in a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Brown rice also is richer in nutrients like magnesium and B vitamins compared with white rice, Nies said. When comparing calories per cup of cooked rice, brown is slightly higher at 248 calories versus 205 for white.