Why "instant" brown rice may be HEALTHIER than regular brown rice

You probably already know that, generally speaking, brown rice is a healthier option than white rice.  It contains more fiber, vitamins and minerals while also having a lower glycemic index.

You've probably also heard that the "slow cook" version of brown rice is much healthier than the "instant" versions, which have been pre-cooked to allow for faster cooking times.  After all, anything that's "easy" has to give you some sort of health trade off, doesn't it?  So perhaps like many looking to obtain a trim, tight waistline, you labor over the stove for 45 mins to prepare your healthy brown rice.

But alas, this simply isn't true.  Did you know that many brands of "instant" brown rice contain just as much fiber as regular brown rice and have even been tested to have a lower glycemic index than regular versions?  In fact, the ONLY brands of brown rice to score a glycemic index in the 40's are ALL instant!  The regular versions generally score in the 60 - 80s range.

Now, with that said, this same "quick cook" phenomenon doesn't apply to other foods like oatmeal, where the glycemic index generally increases significantly when comparing instant versions vs their regular counterparts.

But when it comes to brown rice, it seems that there is little negative trade off and actually some positive benefits to gain with a lower glycemic index.  Not to mention, it's ready in a few minutes instead of nearly an hour!