Why Celebrities Are Switching to This Low-Carb Rice Alternative

For Filipinos, rice is not only a culinary staple but also a culturally significant symbol for the agricultural country. It’s no wonder why “Filipino cuisine is perfectly aligned to serve rice at every meal,” as written by Helena Wehmeyer in an article on University of California, Berkeley’s website. Its deep-rooted place in Philippine history and daily life, however, is not without drawbacks. The report adds, “Health issues related to an unbalanced diet and low nutrients are associated with high rice consumption, especially white rice.”

Fortunately, a low-calorie alternative is gaining popularity. The best part? It tastes and feels almost identical to the white rice we've always loved, and it takes much less time and effort to prepare. Now you won’t have to give up rice to achieve your fitness goals.

Shirataki rice is made from the konjac plant, a root vegetable native to Southeast Asia. This is why it's also referred to as Konjac Rice.

Around 97% of its content is water, with the remaining 3% consisting of glucomannan fiber. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this innovative alternative can help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels while promoting overall gut health.

One of the notable personalities who has committed to eating konjac rice is Song Hye Kyo. In a previous press interview for the hit K-drama series The Glory, the actress revealed that she ate konjac rice for two months to better embody her character, Moon Dong Eun. As a victim of trauma and bullying, the fictional character was portrayed as having a scrawny body rather than a fit one.

Kris Bernal hopped on the shirataki rice trend early. More than five years ago, the actress stopped eating rice but reintroduced it to her diet after discovering this option—one that didn’t require an acquired taste. She even used it to add a healthy twist to kimchi fried rice.

Known for being open about her inspiring fitness journey, Mika Dela Cruz has been using her platform to motivate her supporters to work toward their own goals. In an Instagram post, she shared details of her process and answered netizens' questions in the comments, where she revealed that she switched to shirataki rice as a substitute for white rice—especially when having soup. Talk about a Filipino staple!

Inka Magnaye’s posts typically showcase her life as a voiceover artist, podcaster, and content creator. Giving a sneak peek into her life beyond these roles, she shared an experiment she did with shirataki rice. While it's usually cooked with just water, Inka used the broth from the beloved Pinoy dish bulalo instead. Needless to say, it worked—and it was delicious.