Daily consumption of white rice may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new Harvard School of Public Health study. Researchers examined four previous studies on white rice consumption and type 2 diabetes that were conducted in China, Japan, the United States, and Australia. Combined, the studies included more than 352,000 participants who did not have diabetes at the start of the studies and found that consuming three to four servings of white rice each day increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes more than eating only one or two servings each week. With each additional daily serving of white rice consumed, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increased by 11 percent. The researchers note that white rice has a high glycemic index (64 on a 100-point scale), which causes a rapid increase in blood sugar. Consuming large quantities of high-glycemic foods is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Brown rice has a lower glycemic index and more nutrients than white rice.
