HARI RAYA without ketupat is like rendang without coconut milk: technically possible, but nobody is doing it. But here is the question nobody thinks to ask at the Raya table: is ketupat actually better for your blood sugar than a regular plate of white rice? Verdict:TRUEKetupat appears to have a gentler effect on blood sugar levels than plain white rice, and the science behind it is more interesting than you might expect, though that is not a green light to go back for a fifth piece. Ketupat, however, is not just rice in a different shape. The glycaemic load, which accounts for both the GI and the total amount of carbohydrates consumed, rises with every additional piece, and eating large quantities of even lower-GI foods can still raise blood sugar significantly.

Source: The Star March 20, 2026 10:34 UTC