A health expert on Thursday said educating the public on heart disease prevention is better than the half-cup rice pitch.

In a Viber message to DAILY TRIBUNE, Philippine Heart Association Communications Chairperson Dr. Louella Santos said that while the half-cup rice pitch clearly has benefits, awareness about non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention is more effective.

"If people lack awareness of the elevated sugar content of rice that may elevate triglycerides, what will stop them from ordering one and a half cups of rice per order?" Santos said.

"Educating people will still be primary in cardiovascular disease prevention," she added.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, one in 14 Filipinos had diabetes in 2021, attributing it mainly to the country's high consumption of white rice.

According to the Department of Health, about 4.3 million Filipinos were living with diabetes in 2021.

Globally, about 830 million people are living with diabetes, with Type 2 being the most common.