On account of the small percentage of woody fibre, or cellulose, found in connection with the starch, rice may be classed as an easily digested food. There are many varieties of rice; some contain little else than starch and water, while others contain in addition a small percentage of gluten. The statement is often made that some Eastern people live almost exclusively on rice, but facts do not verify these statements. The Chinese and Japanese simply use rice as we use bread and potatoes. Combined with eggs, cheese, milk or meat juices rice may be made a representative food, but rice alone will not sustain life continuously.