Although it is not as rich in protein as other cereals, rice is nevertheless an excellent food. It has a high carbohydrate content and contains valuable vitamins and minerals. Since most of the vitamins are concentrated in the bran layers of the grain, polished rice is less nutritious than brown rice and parboiled rice. An exclusive diet of polished rice often causes beriberi, a deficiency disease resulting from lack of B-complex vitamins.

Rice is the most important single food throughout much of Asia and in some places makes up 70 to 80 per cent of the food of the people. In the United States much rice is eaten in the form of breakfast cereals. Steamed or fluffy rice is often served as a side dish.

Rice bran is used to feed cattle and poultry. Oil extracted from the bran is used in cooking. Rice straw is used to make shoes, rope, roof thatching, and hats. It is also used as roughage and bedding for cattle. The hulls are used for fertilizer and in the manufacture of synthetic materials. Some products made from the grain are flour, starch, beer, and a wine called sake.