Carbs in Rice: Is Rice Keto?

Carbs | Keto | Brown Rice | Noodles | Flour | Cake | Paper | Substitutes | Recipe

White rice is often criticized as a nutrient-less source of empty carbohydrates and calories. Yet white rice is considered a staple in cultures and cuisines worldwide.

But what does science say?

Here you’ll learn about carbohydrates in rice products, the best low-carb substitute for rice, and how to eat rice while on a keto diet.

Is Rice Keto?

White rice is a refined grain. It has been processed and polished to remove the bran and germ of the grain. This way, manufacturers can increase shelf life and save money.

During milling, nutrients such as fiber, manganese, magnesium, selenium, or phosphorus are removed from the rice.

Therefore, white rice is fortified with vitamins and minerals to increase its nutritional value on paper.

Since brown whole-grain rice does not have the bran removed, it retains more nutrients than its white counterpart.

Accordingly, if brown whole-grain rice is healthier than polished white rice, why does ordinary rice still form a staple for 4 billion Asians?

And why, then, are the Japanese so slim? Have you ever seen Japanese people eating brown whole-grain rice? No? Neither have I.

So are we more brilliant than the Japanese concerning rice? Quite the opposite!

Cleaning the husk and bran also removes plant toxins from the grain, particularly lectins.

These antinutrients bind pathogens, helping them cross the intestinal wall and reach organs (Dalla Pellegrina et al. 2009¹).

Plants use these sticky proteins to defend themselves against predators (Dolan et al. 2010²).

Therefore, lectins hide precisely in seeds and hulls.

In this context, gluten has received the most attention so far. However, in addition to gluten, wheat contains a more aggressive lectin in the bran that is equally damaging to the intestinal wall: Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA).

WGA can bind to insulin receptors, increasing insulin resistance and thus promoting weight gain (Shechter 1983³; Kamikubo et al. 2008⁴).

Studies suggest that rice likewise contains a lectin that resembles WGA (Kolberg et al. 1987⁵).

So whole grain rice is not necessarily ideal for weight loss. But we need to examine the carbohydrate content to determine if it will throw you out of ketosis.

Carbs in Rice

White rice contains less fiber than brown rice, indicating that its carbohydrates cause blood sugar and insulin levels to rise more quickly.

Therefore, can cooked white rice prevent us from losing weight?

How Many Carbs Are in Rice?

100 grams of cooked white rice provide the following macronutrients on average (*):

• Energy: 130 calories
• Protein: 2.7 grams
• Fat: 0.3 grams
• Carbohydrates: 28.2 grams
• Dietary fiber: 0.4 grams
• Net carbs: 27.8 grams

For conventional cooked long-grain rice, we get a fat ratio to net carbohydrates of about 0.01.

Therefore, we don’t need to do any more math. Rice is anything but a low-carb food.

Is Rice Keto-Friendly?

Rice is not keto. Even the most minor rice amounts can throw low-carb beginners out of ketosis. Therefore, the processed grain, which is low in fiber, quickly drives blood sugar levels to unprecedented heights.

In short, the processing gives the rice a higher glycemic index.

Furthermore, studies state that regular consumption of refined rice may affect blood sugar control and be associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Musa-Veloso et al. 2018⁶; Hu et al. 2012⁷).

For these reasons, avoiding white rice as a ketogenic diet is essential.

Therefore, can the higher fiber brown rice be better for low carb?

Carbs in Brown Rice

Compared to white rice, 100 grams of brown wholegrain rice provides a slightly better result (*):

• Energy: 111 calories
• Protein: 2.6 grams
• Fat: 0.9 grams
• Carbohydrates: 23.0 grams
• Dietary fiber: 1.8 grams
• Net carbs: 21.2 grams

In terms of macronutrients, the only difference worth mentioning concerns fiber.

Nonetheless, the amount of fiber in brown rice is still so small that it cannot significantly impact our results.

Is Brown Rice Keto?

Brown rice does not fit keto diets.

In some positions, whole grain rice may contain more nutrients than white rice (*; *). However, contrary to what marketing campaigns tell us, that does not make it a healthy food.

Besides the higher lectin content, brown rice is still a carbohydrate bomb. The fiber content is unimaginably low. Therefore, the net carbohydrates do not decrease significantly compared to white rice.

Therefore, brown rice is not a plausible option for a low-carb diet like keto.

Carbs in Rice Noodles

100 grams of cooked rice noodles provide the following average nutritional values (*):

• Energy: 109 calories
• Protein: 0.9 grams
• Fat: 0.2 grams
• Carbohydrates: 24.9 grams
• Dietary fiber: 1.0 grams
• Net carbs: 23.9 grams

Although rice noodles have undergone another processing stage, you can hardly see any difference from polished rice.

Unlike regular rice, rice noodles in soups are usually consumed in smaller portions for this purpose.

Are Rice Noodles Keto?

No, also rice noodles are not keto. Rice noodles surprisingly have fewer net carbohydrates than white rice. However, their protein content is also significantly lower, likely due to the higher degree of processing.

The bottom line is that they are almost free of fats, proteins, and fiber. Therefore, rice noodles stimulate blood sugar and insulin secretion to a high degree. Even a small serving of 100 grams will throw most people out of ketosis.

Rice is not keto-friendly, even in pasta form.

Carbs in Rice Flour

On average, 100 grams of white rice flour contains the following macronutrients (*):

• Energy: 366 calories
• Protein: 5.9 grams
• Fat: 1.4 grams
• Carbohydrates: 80.1 grams
• Dietary fiber: 2.4 grams
• Net carbs: 77.7 grams

Looking at these numbers, we can quickly conclude that rice flour is a refined carbohydrate. The high degree of processing is reflected in the extreme concentration of carbohydrates. It is more than 80% carbs and has nearly 3.5 times the calories of regular rice.

Is Rice Flour Keto?

Rice flour does not fit into keto diets. What do refined carbohydrates do best? That’s right. They elevate blood sugar and insulin levels.

Therefore, the conclusion is straightforward: Rice flour and its products are not keto-friendly.

Carbs in Rice Cake

100 grams of rice cakes contain the following average nutritional values (*):

• Energy: 387 calories
• Protein: 8.2 grams
• Fat: 2.8 grams
• Carbohydrates: 81.5 grams
• Dietary fiber: 4.2 grams
• Net carbs: 77.3 grams

This snack, marketed as healthy, is a carbohydrate bomb par excellence. After our liver turns the carbohydrates back into glucose, simple sugar, they put 81.5 grams of sugar per 100 grams of rice cakes into our bodies.

Is Rice Cake Keto?

Rice cake is not keto. Have you ever heard that sugar is good for weight loss? I haven’t, either.

After all, that’s one of the few accurate statements already established in the popular mind.

In short, rice cakes are prime sources of sugar and, therefore, not suitable for a ketogenic diet or weight loss.

Ironically, it is precisely those who want to lose weight who consume rice cakes.

Carbs in Rice Paper

100 grams of rice paper contain the following average nutritional values (*):

• Energy: 350 calories
• Protein: 0.0 grams
• Fat: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: 86.76 grams
• Dietary fiber: 1.5 grams
• Net carbs: 85.26 grams

Rice paper represents the pinnacle of processed rice products in this article. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration data, paper made from rice is free of fats and proteins.

It consists only of carbohydrates, a small amount of salt, and a tiny trace of iron.

Is Rice Paper Keto?

Rice paper is not keto. There’s no room for argument here. High-carb, no-fat – rice paper may taste delicious in the form of spring rolls, but it is in no way suitable for a ketogenic diet.

Keto Rice Substitutes

Fortunately, some plants have more nutrients and fewer antinutrients than rice which can replace it.

So you don’t have to give up stir-fry dishes, casseroles, or rice as a side dish.

In my opinion, the following low-carb alternatives can replace rice on the keto diet:

• Shirataki rice made from konjac flour (0 net carbs)
• Cauliflower rice
• Cabbage rice
• Rutabaga rice

If you’re short on time, you can currently buy these excellent keto rice alternatives online:

• Organic Konjac Rice
• Riced Cauliflower

Still, I think it’s better to substitute your keto rice at home. Cauliflower is probably the best candidate for this. But you can also shred cabbage with a food processor and sauté it like rice.

In contrast, rutabaga rice is, in my opinion, more time-consuming to prepare because you have to take an extra step and use a spiral slicer on the root first.

Keto Rice Recipe

Cauliflower is the absolute jack of all trades when replacing high-carb foods. Whether pizza, puree, or rice, cauliflower brings the right texture, flavor, and health benefits to a ketogenic diet.

To maximize the health benefits of low-carb rice, I use Organic Grass-Fed Ghee Butter (buy on Amazon).

With this cauliflower rice, you no longer have to miss out on Asian stir-fry dishes on keto:

Regular Rice Is Not Low-Carb

Rice is not low-carb. It does not fit into a keto pantry. Rice falls into the category of refined carbohydrates. Therefore, its glycemic index is high, significantly increasing blood sugar levels.

Processed rice products are no more suitable for low-carb diets like the keto diet. Contrary to popular belief, rice cake, in particular, is not suitable for weight loss.

Fortunately, excellent keto rice alternatives exist. You can easily make keto cauliflower rice with my recipe or buy ready-made shirataki rice from Konjac flour.

The keto-friendly substitutes may not taste exactly like rice, but these alternatives will keep you in ketosis, so you keep burning fat instead of carbs.

Carbs in Rice Keto FAQ

Can I eat rice on a low-carb diet?

Due to its high carb content, you cannot eat rice on low-carb.

What rice has lowest carbs?

Shirataki Rice, made from konjac flour (Miracle Rice), has 0 net carbs.

Is any rice keto friendly?

Due to its high carbohydrate content, rice is not keto-friendly. However, you can replace rice with a delicious keto cauliflower rice alternative.

What can replace rice in keto diet?

Cauliflower, rutabaga, cabbage, and konjac rice can replace white rice on keto.

Studies click to expand!

¹Dalla Pellegrina C, Perbellini O, Scupoli MT, Tomelleri C, Zanetti C, Zoccatelli G, Fusi M, Peruffo A, Rizzi C, Chignola R. Effects of wheat germ agglutinin on human gastrointestinal epithelium: insights from an experimental model of immune/epithelial cell interaction. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2009 Jun 1;237(2):146-53. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2009.03.012. Epub 2009 Mar 28. PubMed PMID: 19332085.

²Dolan LC, Matulka RA, Burdock GA. Naturally occurring food toxins. Toxins (Basel). 2010 Sep;2(9):2289-332. doi: 10.3390/toxins2092289. Epub 2010 Sep 20. Review. PubMed PMID: 22069686; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3153292.

³Shechter Y. Bound lectins that mimic insulin produce persistent insulin-like activities. Endocrinology. 1983 Dec;113(6):1921-6. doi: 10.1210/endo-113-6-1921. PubMed PMID: 6357762.

⁴Kamikubo Y, Dellas C, Loskutoff DJ, Quigley JP, Ruggeri ZM. Contribution of leptin receptor N-linked glycans to leptin binding. Biochem J. 2008 Mar 15;410(3):595-604. doi: 10.1042/BJ20071137. PubMed PMID: 17983356.

⁵Kolberg J, Wedege E, Sollid L. Immunoblotting detection of lectins in gluten and white rice flour. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1987 Feb 13;142(3):717-23. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(87)91473-2. PubMed PMID: 3827897.

⁶Musa-Veloso K, Poon T, Harkness LS, O’Shea M, Chu Y. The effects of whole-grain compared with refined wheat, rice, and rye on the postprandial blood glucose response: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018 Oct 1;108(4):759-774. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy112. PubMed PMID: 30321274.

⁷Hu EA, Pan A, Malik V, Sun Q. White rice consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: meta-analysis and systematic review. BMJ. 2012 Mar 15;344:e1454. doi: 10.1136/bmj.e1454. Review. PubMed PMID: 22422870; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3307808.