Brown rice, also known as hulled rice, is a partly milled or unmilled form of natural grain. It is far more nutritious than the more common form of rice - white rice. It has a nutty flavor; however, it gets rancid far more quickly than white rice. Brown rice may be long-grained, short-grained, or sticky rice. In earlier times, most of Asia associated this variety of rice with poverty and shortage during war. Furthermore, this form of rice was earlier consumed only in case of sickness, or as an effective remedy for constipation. Overtime, this form of rice has become a preferred choice among many people. Moreover, it has now become even more expensive than white rice as there is a relatively short supply of it and there are several difficulties in storage and transportation of this rice.

The amount of carbohydrates, calories, and proteins is similar in both brown and white rice. The primary distinguishing factor between the two forms is in their nutritional content and processing method. In the production of white rice, the outermost layer of a rice grain and the second layer which is the bran layer and the germ are removed. Thus, in white rice only the starchy endosperm remains. In brown rice, however, only the outermost layer – the husk – is removed. In the white rice polishing process, most of the vitamins and minerals are lost due to the removal of the layers. The bran layer that is removed in white rice results in the loss of oil in the bran as well. This oil is essential as it helps reduce the LDL cholesterol levels in the body. Other nutritious sources that is lost in small amounts after the white rice polishing process is fatty acids and fiber.

People who adopt brown rice diets believe that the high amount of fiber in brown rice serves to cleanse the colon. It acts as a sort of pipe-cleaner, taking along with it any remnant pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals, and chemicals during its passage through the intestines, during digestion. In a brown rice diet, you are required to cook organic brown rice. Prior to cooking, it would be advisable to soak the rice for at least 25-30 minutes, even overnight, if possible. This will help soften the layer of bran and make it easier to cook and consequently digest. In a brown rice diet, you can consume only brown rice, accompanied by fruits and vegetables, for no less than 7 days. The diet does not place any specific restrictions with regards to the portion that should be consumed.