Rice Is Bad. |History: The Roadmap to the Future--Asia

East Asians eat too much rice. In the poorer segments of East Asian society, this is bad, as people will often forgo more nutritious foods such as vegetables or other grains simply so that they can buy enough rice. This condition is increasing as the price of rice has risen due to Cyclone Nargis in Burma, crop failures in Australia, and increased demand in India and China. The rise in the price of oil and fertilizer also has bumped up the prices of many crops besides rice. And so poor Asians are trying hard to obtain more of their traditional staple. However, many are forgoing consuming far more beneficial foods than rice simply so that they can eat this almost useless grain.

Rice, far more costly than it is worth.

Such is the case in this Indonesian situation (great article, worth reading). The article tells of how people on the Indonesian island of Lombok have extremely fertile soil, and can grow a number of vegetable and starch crops, but are selling those crops to buy rice for their people, including their children. While the children receive enough carbohydrates from the rice, they are malnourished because they are not receiving enough vitamins and minerals--which they could easily obtain if they would just eat the food growing around them. The article points out that the consumption of rice is so ingrained in the culture the people feel that eating rice is necessary. Other stories mention how people do not feel full if rice is not a part of their meal. That ingrained cultural trait has to change, not only in Indonesia, but in all of East and South Asia.

The fact is, the primary reason rice is grown and consumed is because it was originally one of the most successful crops capable of feeding many people. But it is far from nutritious, even compared to other grains or starch crops.

This nutrient profile for a cup of white rice shows how lacking rice is. It has almost no vitamin C or A, and is without several B vitamins. After looking at the profile for a cup's worth of dried rice (after boiling), compare the profile to that of a common white potato. The potato is the most commonly eaten type, and is itself not particularly nutritious, and yet is still leaps and bounds ahead of rice. Then there is corn, and whole wheat flour, and white flour, and cassava, and taro.

None of these would be classified as superfood, and some--such as white flour--are about as nutritionally deficient as rice. But some are a smarter choice than rice, and are cheaper and can grow in tropical environments easily, too.

Asians (and non-Asians) should eat more vegetables.

And that is not all. While some carbohydrate consumption is necessary, all carbohydrates are is basically a source of energy, to 'keep people up and running' as it were. Carbohydrates do not build muscle, do not build bone, but they do build fat. Many bodily functions require nutrients not easily obtained by a diet so heavy in rice. Vegetables and meat are necessary, and in terms of nutrients are far more valuable than rice or the other starch sources.

And that is the crux of the issue. While a daily intake of meat is out of reach for some of the poorest Asians, vegetables should not be. Most Asians eat plenty enough rice, even the poor ones. What they need are the nutrients found in vegetables. If they have to choose between vegetables and rice, and are already receiving enough carbohydrates, then they should choose the vegetables.

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Found this article interesting? Check out:
History: The Roadmap to the Future.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Africa.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Europe.
History: The Roadmap to the Future--Latin America.

Or:
The Science Fiction Channel + Technorium.
The Vegetarian Diaries.