Eating at least five servings of white rice per week can lead to an increased risk of being diagnosed with diabetes, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

However, people who eat just two servings of brown rice can lower their risk of developing the disease by as much as 16 percent.

In an effort to see how the consumption of white and brown rice affects people with diabetes, a team of researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) surveyed more than 196,000 people with the illness. Participants were asked about their diet and lifestyle choices, as well as any current health conditions.

After collecting information from the questionnaires and considering many factors including age, ethnicity, alcohol consumption, cigarette use and body mass index, the investigators found that those who ate white rice had the most diabetes cases in their family history. The team also discovered that not only did people who ate brown rice have a lower risk of developing diabetes, they also followed healthier dietary regimens and lifestyles.

These results may benefit people who are interested in following a diet that protects against diabetes. In fact, researchers from Vanderbilt University recently discovered that drinking coffee can also lower the risk of being diagnosed with the disease.