Cooking and eating at home is the best way to stay healthy. However, very few people know that certain ingredients that are commonly used in most kitchens in India are hazardous to health. While there has been increased awareness about the harmful effects of using white salt and refined sugar in excess, there is one more white poison that is part of most Indian savouries and snacks.
It is none other than white flour or maida. Be it samosa, pizza , Kachoris, or even naan and tandoori roti, maida is the dominant ingredient of all these recipes. However, if you want to stay healthy, you should avoid such foods or replace refined flour with whole wheat or millet flour.
History of maida
Italians were the first to start grinding grains for making flour 32000 years ago. Almost 5000 years ago the Egyptians started making very refined flour after repeatedly separating the coarse parts and grinding them. Since it required a very long process and took a lot of time, in those days white flour was considered a food only for the elites and was very expensive.
The refined flour that we use today was first made in England. While the elite stuffed their recipes with refined flour the masses ate the coarse flour which was good for health. This is because maida or all-purpose flour does not offer many health benefits as most of its germ and bran are lost during processing.
Side-effects of Maida
Maida has a very high glycemic index and hence is very bad for diabetic people as it spikes blood sugar levels. On the other hand, whole wheat or millet flour is full of nutrition and hence is a much better option.
Nowadays, all-purpose flour is made in factories and to make it look whiter, it is bleached with chemicals such as benzoyl peroxide. It is a very popular hair dye and is harmful to health. Another chemical called Alloxan is mixed with maida during its processing so that the flour becomes softer.
Regular consumption of maida can lead to deficiency of certain nutrients in the body and it can directly impact the immunity system. That is the reason why people who eat more junk foods like burgers, pizzas, and hot dogs have digestive issues as maida is an important ingredient in all these recipes.
Research published at Harvard University has shown that eating maida can have a bad impact on the ability of the brain to think and weaken its memory. It can further lead to dementia.
Consumption of refined flour in the long term can weaken bones, lower sugar levels, and increase carbohydrate and insulin levels in the body. In the long run, it can also increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.