Basmati rice is 'wrong' (in another video: 'not good ... rubbish'); ordinary Egyptian white rice is the rice to eat.
Original statement
الرز البسمتي لا غلط الرز الابيض المصري العادي
verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.
Translation
Basmati rice is 'wrong' (in another video: 'not good ... rubbish'); ordinary Egyptian white rice is the rice to eat.
Origin
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- Dr Diaa Al Awady د ضياء العوضي is live!صباح الخير اتباع العوضي (Open source)
- Published
- 19 September 2025
- Timestamp
- 0:46:13 (location in the original video’s automatic YouTube caption track; confirms where the words occur, not who speaks)
- Attribution uncertainty
- Archive transcript (YouTube CC or AI-generated); no timestamps; wording may contain speech-recognition errors; speaker turns are not marked, the excerpt was judged to be Elawady's own speech from context.
- Claimed mechanism
None stated in the excerpts.
- Claimed health effect
Not specified; basmati is implied to be inferior or harmful compared with Egyptian white rice.
- Population concerned
Followers of the system.
- Geographic restriction by Elawady
Recommendation refers to 'Egyptian' rice; no health reason or region-specific rationale given.
Diverging source versions
نوع انواع الرز الرز الابيض المصري العادي عادي الرز الابيض
Which kind of rice? Ordinary Egyptian white rice, plain white rice.
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- Dr Diaa Al Awady د ضياء العوضي is live!صباح الخير اتباع العوضي (Open source)
- Published
- 19 September 2025
- Timestamp
- 0:46:47 (location in the original video’s automatic YouTube caption track; confirms where the words occur, not who speaks)
- Attribution uncertainty
- Archive transcript (YouTube CC or AI-generated); no timestamps; wording may contain speech-recognition errors; speaker turns are not marked, the excerpt was judged to be Elawady's own speech from context.
الرز البسمتي مش حلو لا لا زفت الزفت زفت الزفت
Basmati rice is not good - no, no - rubbish, rubbish.
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- Dr Diaa Al Awady د ضياء العوضي is live! ضغط النسيج البيني (Open source)
- Published
- 13 October 2025
- Timestamp
- 0:24:09 (location in the original video’s automatic YouTube caption track; confirms where the words occur, not who speaks)
- Attribution uncertainty
- Archive transcript (YouTube CC or AI-generated); no timestamps; wording may contain speech-recognition errors; speaker turns are not marked, the excerpt was judged to be Elawady's own speech from context.
Scientific assessment
Unclear / insufficient evidence – The data do not allow an assessment either way.
Certainty of evidence: very low – Any assessment is very uncertain.
1. What was claimed?
Basmati rice should not be eaten; ordinary Egyptian white rice is preferred.
2. What is demonstrably correct?
Rice varieties do differ: their glycaemic index depends on variety, composition and processing (I-INTA-17, I-GRN-07). Preferring a local, familiar staple is a reasonable cultural choice.
3. What is wrong or exaggerated?
No health reason is given, and the available data do not show that basmati is worse. In small human GI studies, Indian basmati had low GI (54 rice cooker; 43 microwave) and Pakistani basmati medium GI (64; 56) (I-INTA-14), while a Sri Lankan basmati variety had high GI (73) (I-INTA-15). In an in vitro comparison, basmati had among the lowest estimated GI of commercial rices (68.10; I-INTA-16).
4. What remains unclear?
We found no published GI or outcome data for Egyptian rice varieties (PubMed search 'Egyptian rice AND glycemic', 2026-10-25, returned no records). The reason for his rejection of basmati is not stated. His rice statements are also not uniform (see C-GRN-05: 'rice in all forms allowed'). The PURE analysis of white rice and diabetes (I-GRN-03) did not record rice type (parboiled vs raw, or varieties such as basmati), so it cannot inform whether basmati differs from Egyptian white rice.
5. Which studies support it?
None.
6. Which studies contradict it?
I-INTA-14, I-INTA-16 (basmati low to medium GI).
7. What applies to Germany and Europe?
Basmati is widely sold in Europe; no regulatory or health concern specific to basmati was found.
8. What is known about Egypt?
Egyptian rice is the everyday staple; no Egypt-specific comparison data found. High white-rice intake overall is associated with higher type 2 diabetes risk in large cohorts (I-GRN-03).
9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?
There is no evidence-based reason to replace basmati with Egyptian white rice or vice versa; portion size and total white-rice intake matter more for diabetes risk than the variety name.
Assessment details
- Rationale for certainty of evidence
No rationale is given and no study compares health outcomes of basmati with Egyptian white rice; glycaemic-index studies are small and show that GI depends on the specific variety and processing rather than on the label 'basmati'.
- Source quality
Elawady's own words in an archive machine transcript (live stream); exact wording may contain recognition errors. Short answers to viewer questions.
- Regional transferability
Rice varieties differ by country; GI data from Sri Lanka and in vitro studies are only indirectly applicable to Egyptian rice.
- Individual exceptions
People with diabetes may prefer rice types and preparations with lower glycaemic response, whatever their name.
- Regional scope of the claim
- refers to Egypt
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026 provisional
In plain language
Dr. Elawady told viewers that basmati rice is 'wrong' and that they should eat ordinary Egyptian white rice. He gave no reason. Studies show that how quickly rice raises blood sugar depends on the exact variety and how it is cooked; some basmati rices are on the lower side. We found no study comparing basmati with Egyptian rice for health. How much white rice you eat matters more than which kind.
Studies on this claim
Studies supporting the claim (0)
No studies in this group.
Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (2)
-
How fast does basmati rice raise blood sugar?
Gunathilaka MD et al.. The Ceylon medical journal 2015 · PMID 26132185 · DOI 10.4038/cmj.v60i2.7545Randomised controlled trialindependent cross-checkabstract only checkedTwo basmati rices had low (Indian) and medium (Pakistani) glycaemic index in 10 volunteers.
Some basmati rices have low-medium GI.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: low · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
GI of basmati rice
- How was the study done?
Crossover GI test
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
10 healthy adults
- What was actually found?
GI 43-64 depending on product and cooking
- How large was the observed effect?
GI values
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Basmati is not worse than other rice by GI
- What are the study's limitations?
Very small
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Does not support rejecting basmati
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Health outcomes
-
Which rice is digested most slowly?
Pereira CL et al.. Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 2023 · PMID 38201163 · DOI 10.3390/foods13010135Laboratory / cell studyindependent cross-checkabstract only checkedIn laboratory tests, basmati and a long-grain rice had the lowest estimated glycaemic index.
Basmati among the lowest estimated GI.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: low · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Rice properties and digestion
- How was the study done?
In vitro digestion
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Commercial rices
- What was actually found?
Basmati estimated GI 68.10, among the lowest
- How large was the observed effect?
r up to -0.90
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Basmati is not worse for blood sugar than other white rice
- What are the study's limitations?
Lab estimate only
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts a GI-based rejection of basmati
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Human outcomes
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies with mixed or unclear results (4)
-
Do rice varieties differ in blood-sugar effect?
Nisanka T U et al.. The Ceylon medical journal 2016 · PMID 28076944 · DOI 10.4038/cmj.v61i4.8381Randomised controlled trialindependent cross-checkabstract only checkedIn 11 volunteers, a basmati variety had a high GI (73), while parboiled rice had a low GI (40).
A basmati variety had high GI; processing (parboiling) mattered more.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: low · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Rice variety and GI
- How was the study done?
Crossover GI test
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
11 healthy adults
- What was actually found?
GI 40-73
- How large was the observed effect?
GI values
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
The type and processing of rice matter more than the name
- What are the study's limitations?
Small; local varieties
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Basmati can be high or low GI; no basis for a general rule
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Health outcomes
-
Is all rice the same for blood sugar?
Kaur B et al.. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 2016 · PMID 25590950 · DOI 10.1080/10408398.2012.717976Narrative reviewindependent cross-checkabstract only checkedNo: the effect of rice on blood sugar depends on the variety, how it is processed and what it is eaten with.
GI varies by variety and processing.
Does the study support the specific claim? Unclear · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Glycaemic index of rice
- How was the study done?
Narrative review
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Published GI studies
- What was actually found?
GI depends on variety and processing
- How large was the observed effect?
Not given in abstract
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Portion and type matter
- What are the study's limitations?
Abstract only
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
No support for a basmati ban
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Specific comparisons with Egyptian rice
-
Glycaemic index tables
Atkinson FS et al.. Am J Clin Nutr 2021 · PMID 34258626 · DOI 10.1093/ajcn/nqab233Systematic reviewindependent cross-checkabstract only checkedFruits usually have a low GI; most potatoes have a high GI.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
GI values
- How was the study done?
Tabulation
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
>4000 foods
- What was actually found?
Fruits low, potatoes high
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Potatoes raise sugar more than most fruit
- What are the study's limitations?
Abstract only
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Undermines selective melon ban
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High
-
White rice and diabetes in 21 countries
Bhavadharini B et al.. Diabetes Care 2020 · PMID 32873587 · DOI 10.2337/dc19-2335Cohort studyindependent cross-checkfull text checked★ key studyVery high white rice intake (>=3 cups/day) linked to 20% higher diabetes risk.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Rice and diabetes
- How was the study done?
Cohort
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
132,373
- What was actually found?
Association at high intakes
- How large was the observed effect?
HR 1.20
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Very large rice portions raise risk modestly
- What are the study's limitations?
Observational; one-time diet questionnaire; no data on rice type; not significant in China
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts unlimited rice
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cause
No study in this group is marked as key.
Regional context
Germany / EU
Basmati is widely sold in Europe; no regulatory or health concern specific to basmati was found.
Egypt
Egyptian rice is the everyday staple; no Egypt-specific comparison data found. High white-rice intake overall is associated with higher type 2 diabetes risk in large cohorts (I-GRN-03).
What applies in my country?
General scientific assessment
Unclear / insufficient evidence The preference for Egyptian rice over basmati has no identifiable evidential basis; neither is shown to be healthier.
The following areas of food safety are relevant to this statement:
- Pesticides and pesticide residues
- Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate)
- Mycotoxins (mould toxins)
Cereals and rice
Choose a country to see the checked information for it.
Limits: legal rules describe what is allowed, not what every single food contains. Measurement data come from samples and are meaningful only together with their method details.
Country of residence or purchase Compare with another country
References
- Effect of different cooking methods on glycaemic index of Indian and Pakistani basmati rice varieties.. Gunathilaka MD et al.. The Ceylon medical journal 2015 · PMID 26132185 · DOI 10.4038/cmj.v60i2.7545
- Relationship between Physicochemical and Cooking Quality Parameters with Estimated Glycaemic Index of Rice Varieties.. Pereira CL et al.. Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 2023 · PMID 38201163 · DOI 10.3390/foods13010135
- Rice variety and processing: contribution to glycaemic response.. Nisanka T U et al.. The Ceylon medical journal 2016 · PMID 28076944 · DOI 10.4038/cmj.v61i4.8381
- The Glycemic Index of Rice and Rice Products: A Review, and Table of GI Values.. Kaur B et al.. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 2016 · PMID 25590950 · DOI 10.1080/10408398.2012.717976
- International tables of glycemic index and glycemic load values 2021: a systematic review.. Atkinson FS et al.. Am J Clin Nutr 2021 · PMID 34258626 · DOI 10.1093/ajcn/nqab233
- White Rice Intake and Incident Diabetes: A Study of 132,373 Participants in 21 Countries.. Bhavadharini B et al.. Diabetes Care 2020 · PMID 32873587 · DOI 10.2337/dc19-2335