Are rice cakes a good diet food?

Rice cakes were once considered to be a good diet food due to their low-calorie profile, but today's nutritionists do not recommend them for losing weight. As explained in Shape magazine, plain rice cakes have a high glycemic index, which is bad for blood sugar levels, weight-loss and overall health.

When blood sugar rapidly rises and falls, it results in hunger and a craving for more carbohydrates, which can cause weight gain. According to WebMD, research has shown that people who regularly consume high glycemic index foods often have a high body mass index, a contributing factor to heart disease, diabetes and obesity.