rice (especially white rice) is just empty calories, there's nothing bad about them, not really anything good either. Cook the rice in bone broth and at lease you get minerals -- but I'd rather just drink the broth.

Japanese people may be healthy due to something else that is in their diet -- like high O3 to O6 ratio that has nothing to do with rice.

Rice is the safest of the grains, but even rice is not completely safe. The main problem with grains comes from genetically modified/selected wheat, the one we have in the last 50-150 years. The ancient forms of wheat, like farro and spelt, when lacto-fermented were not as bad as modern wheat with its super-gluten. Most people are intolerant with wheat without knowing it (some say that 7/10 people are intolerant and that it's the next big bubble to burst after the cigarettes thing in the '60s), while others become intolerant at some point in their life, because of its "super-gluten", as it's now called, that is not easily digestible.

I don't think I should be re-iterate on this any further, just do a google search on the subject, there are way too many articles and knowledge about it to fit them here.

I don't like answering with a link, but this can explain it better than i can

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-grains-are-unhealthy/#axzz24Vl0BUlQ

I love when obvious trolls get all you fools to answer their silly questions ;)

Define "bad for you?"

You can argue that unless you are consuming the most nutrient-dense AND nutrient-variable foods, you are eating stuff that is "bad" for you.

For someone with blood sugar issues or other metabolic issues, the answer to the question should be obvious...

Grains are not bad for everyone. Yes, gluten grains are bad if you're gluten intolerant or have gluten sensitivity, but that's not grains- that's gluten. Glucose is needed for the brain and muscles to function optimally, and especially if you're an athlete or are very active, it's critical to well-being and performance. So, if grains are your only source of glucose, then they're probably more beneficial than detrimental (non gluten grains for gluten sensitive/intolerant). Just my opinion. However, there are probably better sources of glucose for the athlete, like roots/tubers- maybe even dextrose/rice syrup- but if you can't get em, I'd say choose better grains (i.e. not the neo-wheat that exists today) as opposed to zero glucose.

IF you're content with being inactive and lazy, then sure, don't eat glucose, but suffer the consequence of a lower quality of life. Or, at very least- not looking very good naked.

I think that grains only become a problem when you have one or all of the following a) gluten issues (in which case, just choose gluten free options, b) they start displacing large amounts of other food choices and/or c) when you are innactive/insulin resistant and can't use the glucose that they provide efficiently.

So, if you're a normal human being mean to do what normal humans beings are designed for- moving around, being active, thinking/problem solving- then you should be able to handle grains just fine as long as they don't displace large amounts of other nutrition foodstuffs.

NOte, I am not advocating a high carb diet, I am saying that eating grains is not inherently harmful, and the benefits of SOME glucose probably outweighs the cons of consuming a grain (anti nutrients?...which won't actually be a problem in an otherwise nutrient dense diet...or just soak/sprout them).

You mad, bro?

First off, I want to thank everyone on this website for all the helpful information they provide about the Paleo diet. I have learned so much!

As a preschooler, over 50 years ago, I lived with my mother and ate mainly meats, fruits, vegetables, as well as some carbs (sandwiches as such). My health was fine. When I started school I went to live with my father, and he is of Hispanic decent. Enter the carbs by the truckload! Wheat, corn, rice, beans...you name it. And lots of cheese! Consequently, I also entered years and years of stomach upset with no explanation, not to mention hitting 185 pounds at age eleven!

After I graduated, I had trouble keeping jobs because I was constantly in the bathroom, very often had trouble concentrating, and packed on even more weight as I got older. True, there were periods of temporary weight loss, and I would usually be under 200 pounds---a reason to celebrate on my part! Unfortunately, my high carb diet took its toll, and I ended up with IBS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, and Pulmonary Fibrosis--oh, and don't let me forget years of chronic depression and meds up my you-know-what.

I switched to a diet that was close to the Paleo diet about 6 years ago and it helped to a great extent. I still ate brown rice, legumes, nuts, and lots of fruit, though. My weight loss slowed, I still had mild IBS, and I still had a great deal of inflammation and breathing problems. I went from 255 down to 190 over those 6 years.

Currently, having switched to the Paleo diet a few months ago, I have gone from 190 to 168 (aiming for 140 so I can breath even easier). My BP is at 110/70, the chronic inflammation is gone (as long as I'm a good Paleo girl), the IBS has completely disappeared, my mind is much sharper,my energy level is amazing, and my need for supplemental oxygen has greatly decreased. I deal with 90% percent LESS mucus than I used to (sorry for that visual). The ONLY med in my cabinet is my inhaler. The others are long gone!

The Pulmonary Fibrosis has not progressed for a couple of years (which is very rare), and I attribute that to the massive amounts of vegetables in my diet, as well as the huge amount of healthy fats.

I have NO NEED for grains or legumes, which for me personally, are nothing but useless calories. I was "bad" last week and had a bowl of plain oatmeal (a childhood comfort food), and I felt almost drunk for hours! Drowsy, slurred speech, trouble thinking. Won't be doing that again!

I've had FIVE DECADES to personally experience the ill effects of a high carb diet, and that has come to a screeching halt thanks to finding out about the Paleo diet. The only proof I need is me! If someone has proven otherwise for themselves, well, yay for them! My concern is me. If someone doesn't believe that the Paleo diet works for a great many people, fine. So what? Should everyone find out what works for themselves? Absolutely!

Doubters and naysayers---please don't waste time asking the same question a million times in an attempt to force people into a corner until they give you the answer you've wanted to get from the very start. It reminds me of a child that keeps asking the same question because their minds aren't quite ready to wrap around the answer. Stop wasting the minutes of other people's lives and find out what works for yourself, and do it on your own time, please! Life is precious and very, very short.

By soaking, sprouting, many grains, nuts and seeds in water, you can negate the phytates and adivin (both reportedly prevent the absorption of vitamins and minerals).

I read somewhere that Asians have enlarged pancreases which helps them handle the big Carb loads

I am not wild about eating white rice since it's just empty calories, but I make myself eat 1/2 cup a day to help my IBS. And it does seem to help with the consistency of my number twos. But threads like this make it harder to eat it without feeling badly...