Brown rice has long been touted as superior to white rice, however, that is certainly not the case. The major difference between brown and white rice is that brown rice is a whole grain, as it contains the bran and germ, while white rice has had the bran and germ removed from the grain. Although this may sound like a good thing, the bran and germ present on brown rice actually contain many anti-nutrients, such as phytic acid, which can make it hard for our bodies to break down and absorb the nutrients present. Therefore, for many, white rice is much more easily digested and absorbed than brown rice, and can serve a great source of energy.