Rice contains cancer-causing ARSENIC - and here's a very simple way to remove it

Irish scientists develop a safer method of cooking rice using a very familiar piece of kitchen kit

Rice is a common starchy food and along with other sources of carbohydrate like potatoes, cereals and pasta, it is important for a healthy diet.

What many people don’t know is that rice can contain hazardous levels of arsenic, a substance which is toxic to our bodies.

However, researchers from Queen’s University Belfast may just have the solution.

They have discovered a new way of cooking rice in a coffee machine, which could cut arsenic levels in half.

By continually flushing a fresh supply of hot water through the rice, you can reduce the risk to your health.

The technique, which uses "an off-the-shelf coffee percolator”, means contaminated water can drip out of the rice.

This is an improvement to traditional cooking methods - where rice soaks up water retaining the toxic substance.

Rice is one of the leading food crops in the world and everyday it is eaten by billions.

But it adds more arsenic to our diets than any other food group, and high levels have been associated with serious health problems including cancers.

The highest risk is in countries such as Bangladesh where rice is eaten several times per day.

Although researchers behind the study don’t expect us to start preparing dinner in a cafetiere, they believe their findings could help develop affordable rice cookers, which reduce arsenic levels.

Andrew Meharg, a scientist from Queen’s University, said: "We just took something that’s in everybody’s kitchen and applied it to show a principle."