All You Need to Know about the Disadvantages of Maida Flour

People all over India use maida and its products regularly to prepare common comfort foods. Fast food contains high portions of maida as well. White flour can have terrible consequences on our health and this is why it’s commonly referred to as the ‘white poison’. Read on to know why you must avoid it.

Why is Maida Unhealthy?

The whole grain of wheat has three parts - the bran that contains fibres and anti-oxidants, the germ that contains minerals and proteins and lastly, the endosperm that contains carbohydrates. When wheat is processed to produce white flour, the bran and germ are extracted. Maida is actually just the endosperm. So, the nutritional value of maida flour is quite literally zero. To top it all off, the human digestive system cannot easily digest maida because it does not contain any fibres that aid in digestion.There are more ways that maida can harm your health.

It Elevates Blood Sugar Level

Maida has a very high glycaemic Index. When you consume something made from it, a lot of sugar is released directly into your bloodstream and your blood sugar level spikes. To counteract this, your pancreas has to work overtime to produce a sufficient amount of insulin. Your pancreas can handle the load adequately if you consume maida occasionally but if you do it frequently, your insulin secretion plummets and eventually, you become diabetic. Moreover, excess glucose in the body causes glycation. It means the sugar molecules attach themselves to the proteins of our cells. This can lead to heart problems, inflammation of joints, arthritis, cataracts and rapid skin ageing.If you want help with curbing high blood sugar, you can seek advice from a doctor through MediBuddy’s E-Consultancy services.

It Offsets Cholesterol Balance

Good cholesterol or HDL helps to flush out the bad cholesterol or LDL. Maida raises the LDL level in your blood to such an extent that HDL cannot combat it. And when this happens, you become vulnerable to heart diseases, high blood pressure and kidney problems.

It Affects Metabolism

Maida slows down your rate of metabolism. That means that your body, instead of burning up fats as fuel, starts storing them. This leads to weight gain and eventually obesity.

It Harms the Gut

Maida does not contain fibres. Fibres help to clean your gut of food debris. Carbohydrates alone cannot do that. In fact, once it reaches the intestines, it turns to glue and clogs the system. Moreover, maida does not promote the growth and sustenance of good bacteria that aid in digestion.

It Weakens Bones

Maida is very acidic. When you consume it in excess, your body has to draw calcium to counter the extra acid. This is basically alkali from your bones and thus leads to reduction in bone density. The presence of excess acid in the body is another cause of inflammation and arthritis.

What are some Healthy Substitutes for Maida?

The best alternative for maida is whole grains. Make wheat, brown rice, bajra, jowar or ragi a part of your staple diet. You can also opt for soy flour or gram flour. These days, you can easily find bread, noodles, or pasta made with whole wheat that are certainly healthier alternatives.

While most foods made from maida have a brilliant taste, it should not become your excuse for overlooking the disadvantages of regularly using Maida flour. If you want help with curbing high blood sugar, you can seek advice from a doctor through MediBuddy’s E-Consultancy services