To prevent beriberi, eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes foods rich in thiamine.

What is beri beri deficiency?

Beriberi is a disorder that can occur when a person has a lack of thiamine, or vitamin B-1. A severe deficiency in this nutrient can lead to lasting damage in the nervous system and heart.

Why does Rice cause beriberi?

Causes. Beriberi is caused by a lack of thiamine. It is common in people whose diet consists mainly of polished white rice, which contains little or no thiamine, in chronic alcoholics with impaired liver function, and is a known (though rare) potential side-effect of gastric bypass surgery.