As far as I can remember, rice has been a staple food in my family. Even when other carbohydrates were present on the dining table, there was always rice accompanying the various dishes laid out for consumption.
Chris Urbano of Maputing Cooking asked, "Why are Filipinos obsessed with rice?" Some had interesting answers while others coaxed him to accept the fact that Filipinos cannot feel full without rice.
As a curious epicurean, I was piqued. There weren't a lot of successful hits from my Google search, but I did find an interesting article. "Too much fiber or dense foods before exercise can cause digestive problems during the activity. But a little bit of fiber will help you be less hungry during longer workouts." Susan Kleiner, University of Sydney, Australia nutritionist.
This statement alone made so much more sense now than I realize. I have been mindful of what I've been eating since I started my new diet as a sans gallbladder patient 5 years ago. No matter what I ate, I was always hungry. When I started having rice again, I noticed that I had gone without food for 4 ½ hours without experiencing hunger pangs.
As you can see, 1 cup of rice has 206 calories, but has fewer fibers than a medium potato; even though its calorie count is higher than that of rice. If what I understand from this, the active you are with a balance diet of moderate fiber ratio to carbohydrates, and high protein, you more likely to stay full than you are being a sedentary couch potato.
I’m now beginning to understand the trend as to why I always end up hungry after a savory meal with oatmeal, bacon and eggs for breakfast. Even having McDonald’s Steak, egg and cheese bagel was not enough to last me through dinner time; especially with snacks in between. I’m also beginning to understand the hype term, ‘empty calories.’ It’s not that my metabolism from my youth stayed the same. It’s my lack of proper fuel to keep me energized throughout my day at work. It’s also a wonder why I always feel exhausted by the time I come home. The end of the “sugar rush” has depleted.
So now I have this dilemma of how to corporate the foods I need to eat with rice, without stressing my liver? In a healthy sense, Filipino and Indigenous Malayo-Polynesian islanders have understood the nutritional value of rice regardless of other Western influences that have cultivated the modern Filipinos of this century.
According to this study by Ronald de Jong, rice for the Filipinos is a symbol of love and life. If you visit the Philippines, you will notice most of the provinces have families owning by-products made from rice: from bedding to kitchenware - even as glue. As innovative as the world to date, Filipinos are highly resourceful people. That all in itself is an amazing story.
