The human body needs more than 40 different nutrients to stay healthy. These nutrients include vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, even fat in small quantities. No one food can supply all these nutrients, which is why eating a balanced, varied diet is so important. Most people could dramatically improve their diets by eating more grains like rice. Nutritionists believe the rise in heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer is linked to a decline in consumption of complex carbohydrates and a corresponding increase in the consumption of fat and sugar.
Complex carbohydrates are to the human body what fuel is to an engine.
The body's digestive processes convert foods such as rice into glycogen, which is stored in muscle tissue and released as energy when activity demands. Rice is an excellent source of amino acids, which the body needs to build strong muscles. It complements the amino acids found in beans, peas and other legumes for an even better nutritional value. Other essential vitamins and minerals are also found in rice - thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorous, iron and potassium. And only a trace of fat is found in either brown or white rice.