Beriberi: What Disease is Caused by Polished Rice in Human Diet?
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4 min read
Historically, beriberi was a major health problem in East Asian countries where diets consisted largely of polished white rice, which lacks essential nutrients. This serious nutritional disorder, known as beriberi, is caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin B1, also called thiamine. The refining process strips rice of its nutrient-rich outer layers, leading to this dangerous condition.
