6 Side Effects of Eating Maida on Your Health

Health enthusiasts are keeping their hands off Maida, the white flour.

Maida is the chemically processed wheat flour that’s been stripped of all nutrients. It is also high in calories, increasing the risk of weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and elevated cholesterol.

Today, most of the food items, especially the fast and processed foods or the Western foods are made of Maida. Be it pizza, pasta, noodles or burgers, they are all made of Maida which just provides empty calories.

# It has a high Glycaemic index

Maida has a high glycaemic index of 71. It also contains twice the calories as unprocessed wheat. Prolonged and regular consumption of Maida can cause inflammation, insulin resistance and type II diabetes. Thus, it increases the risk of diabetes due to a high glycaemic index and increases the risk of obesity.

# It raises your bad cholesterol

Eating Maida can raise your bad cholesterol levels. This increases your risk of obesity and high blood pressure. Maida can also result in clogged arteries and disrupted blood sugar levels. The empty calories in Maida do not feed the hunger thus leaving you with more cravings.

# It can cause digestive problems

Maida is harmful to your digestive health. It has low fibre content and high-calorie content, which makes it difficult to digest. Hence, it slowly congests your body, slows down your metabolism, and can even lead to constipation and other related issues.

# Maida can lead to heart problems

Consuming Maida can increase the risk of heart-related problems. It also increases the risk of clogged arteries and increases the chances of a stroke. Maida cannot make you feel fuller for longer thus, increase your cravings and calorie intake.

# Maida may increase the risk of Chronic Disease

Maida or white flour can increase the risk of many modern-day chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity, blood pressure, cholesterol, headaches, inflammation and pains. It is also acidic in nature which can deplete the calcium levels of the body and cause chronic illness of the heart.

# Maida may contain harmful chemicals

Food items made with refined flour can contain hazardous chemicals like Sodium Meta Bisulphate (SMBS) and Benzoic acid. These chemicals can be dangerous for pregnant ladies and kids.