Body Fuel

Rice energy is used in the body in the following ways:

Fuel for everyday body functions - the carbohydrate that rice provides is used by many organs in the body, including the heart, liver and kidneys, to help keep them working at an optimum level.

Fuel for the brain - glucose, which comes from the breakdown of carbohydrate, is the main source of fuel to the working brain. Without a steady supply of glucose to the brain, concentration wanes and mental performance falls.

Fuel for the working muscles - glucose is also the main source of fuel for the working muscles. Glucose is also stored in the muscles and released into the bloodstream when energy is required.

Just as rice comes in many shapes and forms, so too does the rate at which it is broken down to glucose – an important fuel used by our body.  As covered in the ‘GI Factor’ section, some rice varieties release glucose into the bloodstream slowly, whereas others release glucose quite quickly. A slow, medium and fast release of glucose into the bloodstream all have their benefits.

Let’s take a look at the groups of people who are most likely to benefit from a low to medium GI eating pattern versus and high GI eating pattern.

Low to Medium GI Eating Pattern	High GI Eating Pattern
General population – children, teenagers, adults and the elderly	Athletes during training
Students – whilst studying (which requires extended hours of concentration)	Athletes post-training (during recovery)
People with impaired blood sugar control	Recreational sports people (e.g. during a football match and after the game)
People with heart health issues	Children and teenagers involved in active sports (e.g. during sports carnivals) and very active play
People watching their waistline

 

Click here to learn more about the GI of rice.