Each daily serving of white rice is associated with 11% increased risk of diabetes.

White rice is the primary type of rice eaten around the world. Asian populations consume 3-4 or more servings per day, while Western populations eat only 1-2 servings or less daily. A meta-analysis that included over 350,000 participants has shown that a high intake of white rice may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by a significant 55% in Asians. It is important to note this association does not prove it causes diabetes.

PositiveTip: Next time you eat rice, enjoy the goodness of whole-grain brown rice--or at try mixing brown and white rice together.

Two servings of brown rice per week may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 17%.

Rice is the world's largest staple food. A majority is consumed as white rice, with the bran and germ portion removed in milling.

Scientists studied 200,000 men and women to observe the connection between rice consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for age and lifestyle factors, people who ate five or more servings of white rice per week had 17% higher risk of diabetes. Eating two or more servings of brown rice per week resulted in a decrease of 17%, compared to those who ate less than one serving per month.

PositiveTip: Not ready for all brown rice? Substituting one-third with brown, can still significantly lower your risk of type 2 diabetes!