Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
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| | I. love. white rice. In my Thai and Filipino household, I grew up eating it with practically every meal. Breakfast, lunch, dinner — I usually had rice on my plate. But that hasn't always been the case. There was a brief time when I felt guilty eating it. I labeled it as an "empty carb" because it offered "little nutritional value" and pretty much eliminated it from my diet, opting for "healthier" grains such as barley, farro, and quinoa. | | And I know exactly why that happened. | | I'll explain more below — and share how I feel about it now. But first … | | | | Thank you for hearing me out!
Kenny Thapoung
Managing Newsletter Editor, Healthline |  | | Written by Kenny Thapoung
November 28, 2023 • 4 min read | | | |  | | | Go ahead: Enjoy white rice! | | I've worked in wellness media for over 10 years now. I've witnessed the rise and fall (and resurgence) of most trends — Mason jar salads are back?! — and have followed advice from social media influencers that I probably should've ignored. | | But the one that affected me the most? White rice is an "empty" carb. | | Instagram videos inundated me with delicious-looking grain bowls made with an assortment of greens, chicken breast, and farro. People suggested it was "healthier" to order sushi with brown rice. And instead of ordering a combination platter from my local Chinese restaurant, it'd be better to get an entree with a side of steamed vegetables and no rice. | | I absolutely understand that people with dietary restrictions — particularly related to a health condition — have to be extra sensitive to what they consume regularly. But rarely was that nuanced context a part of the narrative I saw on social media. Instead, I was made to think that white rice was a waste of calories that should be avoided as much as possible. | | And I … fell for it. | | I want to say it was 2015 when I started to believe that white rice was "bad" for my body. I went months without eating it, choosing the more "nutritional" substitutes. However, there came a moment when I realized I wasn't emotionally satisfied. My meals were still tasty and filling, sure. And I had fun experimenting with new grains I hadn't heard of before. I don't know how to really describe what I was feeling, but it felt like I was missing a part of myself without white rice. | | There was no "lightbulb" moment when I decided to bring it back into my everyday diet. All I know is that I missed it so much. White rice really can accompany any meal — it's a blank canvas to soak up all kinds of flavors! I love buying KFC or Jollibee fried chicken and eating it with homemade white rice. Also, keep in mind that just because white rice isn't "packed with protein" or "loaded with fiber" doesn't mean that the other ingredients on my plate can't balance out my meal! OK, maybe not fried chicken, but you know what I mean. | | I'll probably never escape the demonized white rice narrative that's so common in nutrition circles today. But while I can't tune out the noise, I can at least make the choice not to listen — and to eat what makes me feel whole instead. | | I wanted to write this newsletter to see if I was the only person who dealt with this internal conflict. My guess is that I'm not. If you've been in the same boat, consider telling us your story at nutritionedition@healthline.com! (Heads up, we might include your response in an upcoming edition.) | | | | | | Rinse and repeat | | | | | | |  | | Cuisinart Mesh Strainers | | I've had these strainers for years! I use the largest one to rinse white rice to remove the starches. The smaller ones are great for straining aromatics from homemade infused oils. There's not much else I can say except I have never regretted adding these to my kitchen tool set. | | | | Every product we recommend has gone through Healthline's vetting process. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline is owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | | | | What we're digesting | | 🧂 Another very good reason to cut back on salt. Sold. | | 💊 Current vitamin D recommendations may not be sufficient. Especially when it comes to heart disease prevention. | | 🍵 Beverages you should — and shouldn't — drink to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Tomato juice? Really? Yes! | | 💪 Constipated? Here are 13 ways to get your bowels moving. You could try heading to the gym (not a joke). | | | Want to see us cover something specific? We love getting suggestions! Get ahold of us at nutritionedition@healthline.com. (Please note that we may use your name and response in an upcoming edition!) | | | Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon! | | | | |  | | This edition was powered by | | white rice, naturally. | | | | |
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