We are well aware of the flavour and munch that papad brings to our daily plate of boring food. The satisfaction of eating the same old dal-rice doubles up when accompanied with papad. It’s not just the crunch or the wafer like texture or the extra flavour; it is all combined into one. Papads are extremely popular equally in the northern and southern parts of India. So we think it is safe to say that the unified Indian palate relishes the taste of papad and when given a choice they will always go for papad than not.
The ingredients usually used to prepare different kinds of papads range from rice, flour, lentils, potatoes, chickpeas or black gram and various spices, salt and peanut oil. All of the ingredients are ground together and the dough is made into flat circular breads which then is left out to dry in the sun. This dish is rich in protein and fiber. This dish is then either fried in oil or dry roasted. While when looked broadly at the ingredients they seem good for health but when you observe closely you will find that it is something definitely not meant for uncontrolled consumption
Here are 6 reasons why you should watch how many papads you chomp down with your meal.
1. Papad is a hidden source of salt / sodium
One of the main ingredients of the dough of papad is salt. It is used in medium quantities to make the papad tastier and it acts as a preservative as well. Indian food is usually known for the copious amount of salt and spices that are added to it. Now when you consume more salt than required by the body from the combination of the salt in our staple food and the salt in papad we end up with a high level of salt in our blood. Salt is basically sodium and such high content of sodium causes high blood pressure, water retention, abdominal bloating, increased thirst, diabetes etc.Read more about tips to reduce bloating and water retention.
2. Spicy papads are not good
Some papads have a variety of spices added to them in varying quantities ranging from medium to very high. Having spices in general is not bad for health but like all other things, when consumed in excess can be bad for health and since most people consume multiple papads in one sitting, it can cause acidity and other digestive problems.Get more information on health benefits of indian spices.
3.Papad causes constipation
If the papads are consumed in excess, the dough of papad once in the stomach may stick to the intestinal lining and cause constipation or gastric issues.Read and follow these home remedies for constipation.
4. Quality of oil used in papad / Fried Papad
Usually when papads are fried repeatedly using the same oil, the reused oil becomes rich in trans-fat or if the quality of the oil to begin with is not good then it can have other adverse effects on your health. More often than not most of the papads available in the market are prepared in low quality oil with little to no quality control. This may increase the levels of bad cholesterol in the body causing heart problem, diabetes etc.
5. Unhygienic preparation methods of papads
Papads need to be left out in the open for drying and they might be kept on dirty and unhygienic surfaces, leading to further chances of infection for the consumer.
6. All dry roasted papads are not very healthy.
A recent study shows that when papads are dry roasted, fried or microwave roasted, acrylamide is formed due to the presence of sodium benzoate. Acrylamide is a probable carcinogen. Studies show that the formation of acrylamide is more in case the papads are roasted and the least when they are microwave roasted. Hence, try and opt for microwave roasted over flame roasted.
All of these reasons might seem intimidating in the beginning, but if you truly care about your body you need to be careful about what you ingest. Papads are harmless little tasty snacks but only when chosen mindfully. The right choice in the type of papad along with how it is prepared can make a world of difference when your health is in question.
