Unlike white rice, which has been milled and stripped of these nutritious components, brown rice contains valuable nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals like magnesium and selenium. Consuming it has been associated with various health benefit such as a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

It is important to note that brown rice is naturally very high in arsenic, a poisonous element. To reduce the arsenic content when cooking brown rice, soak/wash the rice first, and then cook 1 cup of rice in 6 cups of water. Once the rice becomes tender, throw out the water and rinse the rice again. This is because arsenic is water-soluble and this process helps remove a significant amount of the arsenic. When purchasing a pre-made product or ordering brown rice at a restaurant, it is possible that the brown rice has not been prepared in this method.