Rice Before Pilates: Is It a Help or a Hindrance?

Pilates can help improve your posture, enhance flexibility, increase core strength, and reduce stress. These benefits are among the many reasons why Pilates is so popular among many Americans. Statista data shows that 11.86 million people did Pilates training in the US in 2023, up by 15% compared with the previous year. But although Pilates is a great way to stay active, fueling your body is crucial to sustaining your energy. 
Our previous article on Healthy Diet mentioned a couple of food and nutrient sources that can energize your body for Pilates. These include fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. While these foods are an excellent option for providing your body with enough nutrients and energy, some of you may ask: what about rice? Can it also help before doing Pilates, or will it hinder my practice? If you’re wondering if you can eat rice before Pilates, here’s what you should know:

Common misconceptions about rice 

Rice is a staple food across many cultures, and some common misconceptions surround it due to its high carbohydrate content. Some myths about rice include the idea that it contains gluten, which may be bad for anyone trying to lose weight, even though all rice is naturally gluten-free. Some people may also forgo eating rice because of the perception that it does not contain protein, but protein is the second-most abundant nutrient in rice. People also think rice can cause weight gain, but rice is generally low in fats and does not contain cholesterol.

While some may have a bad impression of rice because of its high carbohydrate content, it is actually a good energy source, especially for exercises like Pilates. In fact, a study published by the National Institutes of Health mentioned that a pre-workout meal consisting of rice may help boost endurance exercise performance. This highlights the importance of rice and other healthy foods in helping your body prepare for workouts.  

Benefits of rice

Since rice contains complex carbohydrates that provide energy to sustain your Pilates exercises, including it in your pre-workout meal is generally okay. Rice’s nutritional benefits are the reason why food writers such as Chrizelle Diaz from We Know Rice have written about not just the importance of rice in many cultures but also the best tools to prepare it for any occasion. These tools include rice cookers, healthy ingredients, and unique ways to make rice-based meals like Japanese fried rice at home. But aside from providing energy, what other benefits can you get from rice, and how is it valuable for practicing Pilates and maintaining overall health? 

The benefits you can get from rice depend on the type of rice you eat. Brown rice, for instance, is a whole grain, which means it contains more fiber, which helps reduce heart disease risks and regulate bowel movements. Meanwhile, white rice is easier to digest because it contains less fiber, allowing your body to absorb its nutrients more quickly and leading to a faster energy boost. So, although brown rice is more nutrient-dense, both white and brown rice are good energy sources for Pilates and other activities.

Here’s how you can prepare your rice meals if you’re looking to maximize its benefits for your Pilates exercises:

Preparing rice before Pilates

If you want to emulate celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, who are leveraging the benefits of Pilates and a healthy diet to look and feel good, you can incorporate rice and nutritious foods into your pre-exercise meals for sustained energy. You can opt for white rice so it’s easily digestible and then pair it with a healthy amount of chicken breast or fish and vegetables for extra nutrients. Brown rice and lean ground beef are also a viable option if you want a perfect balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber for enhanced performance and recovery. Make sure to eat your meals one to two hours before doing Pilates so you have enough time to digest them. 

Given rice's nutritional value and ability to fuel your body, eating it before doing Pilates can help you sustain energy throughout your workout. Just make sure to consume it in moderation and allot some time for digestion before exercising. 

Article written by Tracey Craig

Exclusively for absolutepilates.co