Foggy Brain after eating brown rice?

[seeker5]

For the past two weeks, I've substantially increased the brown rice I've been eating. Unfortunately, every once in a while, I get a foggy brain after I eat brown rice, and it's harder for me to think clearer. I'm experiencing that right now. The foggy brain effect tends to stay on for an hour or two or so.

Anyone else have this experience, and/or how can I prevent this foggy brain from happening?

[Rose of Cairo]

Is your rice organic?

[seeker5]

No. I didn't know they made organic rice.

[Rose of Cairo]

If you eat whole things (whole grains or brown rice) I highly recommend you choose organic stuff. I always recommend organic stuff for everything anyway, but with whole grains or rice this is particularly important, because when things are refined, a part of the chemicals they throw on the rice/grains is removed with the outer layers, which is not the case with whole products. So maybe you're feeling foggy after eating brown rice because of the chemicals you're ingesting?

I don't know, it's just the only explanation I can think of. Rice doesn't contain gluten, so a gluten allergy is not relevant, and in case of problems with your blood sugar levels brown rice is much safer than white rice. You shouldn't feel foggy.

Another possibility is that you are totally not used to eat food that is high in fiber, and now you're having a hard time digesting them in the brown rice? How high in fiber is your normal diet?

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

So maybe you're feeling foggy after eating brown rice because of the chemicals you're ingesting?

Ah, that make sense. Thanks

I'll check out the organic rice to see if it helps.

Another possibility is that you are totally not used to eat food that is high in fiber, and now you're having a hard time digesting them in the brown rice? How high in fiber is your normal diet?

That may be true. I've only started eating brown rice regularly two weeks ago. Before that I'd rarely eat brown rice, so I went from almost zero, to about 5 times a week. I don't really know how to count fiber, but my guess I didn't eat much fiber before.

Edit: I read here that there is two kind of fiber. I do eat regular amount of soluble fiber, but other then a handful (fits one hand) nuts every day and frequent eating of tomatoes I haven't eaten much insoluble fiber daily.

Originally Posted by wikipedia

is found in varying quantities in all plant foods, including:

• legumes (peas, soybeans, and other beans)
• oats, rye, chia, and barley
• some fruits and fruit juices (particularly prune juice, plums and berries)
• certain vegetables such as broccoli and carrots
• root vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions (skins of these vegetables are sources of insoluble fiber)
• psyllium seed husk (a mucilage soluble fiber).

Originally Posted by wikipedia

Sources of insoluble fiber include:

• whole grain foods
• bran
• nuts and seeds
• vegetables such as green beans, cauliflower, zucchini (courgette), and celery
• the skins of some fruits, including tomatoes

[Rose of Cairo]

Before two weeks ago, did you eat whole bread or white bread? white rice? some grains? in which form? Pizza, cakes, and so on: refined too? In short, did you eat everything refined?

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

Before two weeks ago, did you eat whole bread or white bread? white rice? some grains? in which form? Pizza, cakes, and so on: refined too? In short, did you eat everything refined?

Hmmm. The answer is no, no, maybe, wrap, no, no, no, no.

Basically, I'd eat lots of veggie wraps from subway. Each has 3-5g of fiber, and I'd eat one a day most of the time. I'd eat regular vegetable, but also canned soups (that had some rice sometimes), and on weekends, at times junky food like pizza-like stuf. But I'd also eat raw spinach most days, and some vegetables daily.

[JOHNSHED]

iI would say go see a doctor IF THE SYMPTONS PERSIST. They will put you in touch with a great nuuuuutritionalist.

[Rose of Cairo]

I don't know subway, but I guess those wraps are not made with whole flour?

So if I understand correctly, you ate no whole grains and no brown rice?

When grains (wraps, pizza) then refined, true?

Then it's no wonder that when you suddenly start eating brown rice 5 (!!!) times a week, your digestive system has a bit of a hard time.

I'd
- take organic rice!!!
- transition slowly
- alternate with (organic) quinoa.

my great advice

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

I don't know subway, but I guess those wraps are not made with whole flour?

Not sure what they are made of.

So if I understand correctly, you ate no whole grains and no brown rice?

yeah, probably.

When grains (wraps, pizza) then refined, true?

yeah, probably.

Then it's no wonder that when you suddenly start eating brown rice 5 (!!!) times a week, your digestive system has a bit of a hard time.

Oh ok.

I'd
- take organic rice!!!
- transition slowly
- alternate with (organic) quinoa.

Thanks for the advice. I wonder if quinoa is something sold in America.

Although, I don't really mind the brain being foggy for an hour or two after lunch once in a while (doesn't happen all the time just once in a while) after eating brown rice if it means in the long term I'll be healthier. I can schedule my heavy-duty thinking stuff for the morning or late afternoon .

[mikeschu]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Thanks for the advice. I wonder if quinoa is something sold in America.

Quinoa is sold at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. I highly recommend it! You may also want to try amaranth (at Whole Foods) if you're interested in other alternative grains.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by mikeschu

Quinoa is sold at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. I highly recommend it! You may also want to try amaranth (at Whole Foods) if you're interested in other alternative grains.

Thanks, however, neither of these two stores exist here.

[gettingskinny]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

I don't know subway, but I guess those wraps are not made with whole flour?

So if I understand correctly, you ate no whole grains and no brown rice?

When grains (wraps, pizza) then refined, true?

Then it's no wonder that when you suddenly start eating brown rice 5 (!!!) times a week, your digestive system has a bit of a hard time.

I'd
- take organic rice!!!
- transition slowly
- alternate with (organic) quinoa.

my great advice

You had great insight here. I agree with you!

[gettingskinny]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Thanks, however, neither of these two stores exist here.

Where are you? Do you have Trader Joe's? Is there any HFS where you are?

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by gettingskinny

Where are you? Do you have Trader Joe's? Is there any HFS where you are?

I live in the middle of nowhere, in flly-over country

What is HFS? Health Food Store? If so, yes, there is a small one

[gettingskinny]

Originally Posted by seeker5

I live in the middle of nowhere, in flly-over country

What is HFS? Health Food Store? If so, yes, there is a small one

So, maybe there?

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

It may be that I am in a pretty "urban" area compared to the flyover states, but the regular grocery stores carry quinoa and amaranth and etc.

The only difference is they are cheaper than Whole Foods (no Trader Joe's here).

Oh, and I don't think anything at Subway is whole grain. Not that I don't still eat there, just fyi.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by {aspiring_to_clarity}

Oh, and I don't think anything at Subway is whole grain. Not that I don't still eat there, just fyi.

Oh? I guess I'm confused between whole grain and half grains

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Official SUBWAY Restaurants U.S. PRODUCT INGREDIENTS GUIDE

Well, it looks like every bread is made with enriched flour. Whole wheat flour is an ingredient in some, but only after enriched wheat flour. I may not be understanding it right, but I bet someone can set me straight by looking at the ingredients.

[desertbrother]

A week ago I stopped eating grains that have gluten. Started eating a lot of brown rice.
Guess what? Started getting foggy brained without any other explanation. I guess my next move is to change to corn or something else and see if that helps.

[freedomclub]

Your likely culprit is blood sugar levels. Despite earlier replies discounting this possibility it seems to be the best answer.

Taken from Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis – NutritionData.com

Rice, brown, long-grain, cooked, 1-cup
Glycemic Load of 22

Rice, white, long-grain, regular, cooked, 1-cup
Glycemic load of 24


Not that much difference. If you are like me then you get incredibly foggy after a high blood sugar load. When it comes to blood sugar brown rice isn't as wonderful as people seem to think.

[desertbrother]

It is very likely that I am looking at a glycemic load problem when I eat a lot of rice on one day. It probably did not help much that I like honey on my breakfast rice!

Thanks so much for the hint. I have been dropping sweet things from my diet and I find that my head is clearing, and I feel better in other ways too.