Complications from diabetes, which affects some 425 million globally, can lead to heart attacks, stroke, blindness and even limb amputation. Rice — and rice production — was the cornerstone of dictator Suharto’s ambitious bid for food self-sufficiency. “There was an authoritarian aspect to this rice myth. “My family has a history of diabetes so I stopped eating rice and anything with carbohydrates,” he added. Selling millions of Indonesians on a low- or no-rice diet will be a herculean task, despite the possible health benefits.

Source: Manila Times November 14, 2019 16:10 UTC