In over 100 countries, rice is a prominent nutritional source that is served with a variety of flavorful dishes. Jasmine rice, also known as Thai fragrant rice, is an aromatic “long-grain” rice where each grain is about four times as long as it is wide.
Jasmine rice comes in a variety of colors. White jasmine rice, in particular, is largely processed and has more nutritional similarities to white rice than to brown jasmine rice. Jasmine rice also comes in black, purple, and red varieties, each with slightly different nutritional profiles. Be sure to read the nutritional label of the jasmine rice you’re cooking for the most accurate nutritional information.
Adding jasmine rice to your diet can offer you health benefits. However, there are also a few risks that you should watch out for.
Nutrition Information
One ¼ cup serving of brown jasmine rice contains:
- Calories: 160
- Fat: 1 gram
- Cholesterol: 0 grams
- Sodium: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 36 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: 0 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
Like most whole-grain rice, brown jasmine rice is rich in nutrients, including vitamin B1, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and manganese.
Potential Health Benefits of Jasmine Rice
Because rice is a staple food in many countries, scientists have focused a lot of energy on researching how different rices affect the human body. Jasmine rice offers a number of health benefits such as:
Improved Immune System
Colorful varieties of jasmine rice, including red, purple, and blue, are packed with phytonutrients. Phytonutrients help protect your body’s cells, improving your immune system and overall health.
Promotes Healthy Pregnancy
Jasmine rice is packed with folic acid. Folic acid has been linked to promoting healthy pregnancies, especially when taken before pregnancy and within the first trimester. Specifically, regular folic acid intake has been linked to reduced levels of birth defects and neural tube defects. This makes jasmine rice a healthy choice while trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
Supports Digestive Health
Brown jasmine rice has a higher fiber content than white jasmine rice. Brown rice is less processed which means that fiber and nutrients remain intact. Dietary fiber normalizes bowel movements and helps maintain your digestive health.
Potential Risks of Jasmine Rice
Despite being a staple food in many cultures, eating jasmine rice doesn’t come without its risks. Risks associated with this rice include:
Blood Sugar Spikes
Like all rices, jasmine rice is relatively high on the glycemic index. Even brown jasmine rice can cause your blood sugar levels to spike, which may cause complications for people with Type II diabetes.
Arsenic Levels
Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal found in soil, rock, and water. It has been found that arsenic builds up in rice at 10 times the rate it builds up in other grains since rice is grown in water-flooded fields. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently does not have a limit on how much arsenic can be in foods, meaning arsenic levels can build up quickly without consequence to the sellers. This can be especially dangerous to children. To lessen the amount of arsenic in your rice, be sure to wash the rice thoroughly before cooking it.
Healthier Alternatives
Brown jasmine rice or colored jasmine rice varieties are healthy alternatives to white jasmine rice. However, these options aren’t the healthiest grains you can choose. Other grains that have lower arsenic levels while still providing key nutrients to your body include quinoa, millet, bulgur, and amaranth.
