Health Benefits of Eating Wheat Chapati

Every Indian loves wheat chapati. Of all staple foods, maximum Indians prefer eating wheat chapatis at least once a day as it keeps them full and sane.

Wheat chapatis are a great source of many nutrients and complete our meals. No matter which vegetables we cook, we definitely want chapatis on our plates.

People love it so much that intelligent chefs have come up with new and innovative recipes involving wheat chapatis.

For example, frankie, paratha, kulcha, naan, theplas and so on. Each and every variation of wheat flour chapati is unique and full of nutrition.

Health benefiting properties of Wheat Chapati:

“A small chapati has 70 calories, 3 grams of protein, 0.4 grams of fat and 15 gms of energy-giving carbohydrates.

It also contains vitamin (B1, B2, B3, B6, and B9), iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, and soluble fibres.” (TOI)

“The bran/germ fraction of whole wheat may, therefore, impart greater health benefits when consumed as part of a diet, and help reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Dietary fibre can have an impact on food by reducing the rate of glucose breakdown and absorption, hence avoiding an excess of glucose in the body and facilitating the steady breakdown of carbohydrates and release of glucose.” (NCBI)

11 Health Benefits of Wheat Chapati:

• Diabetic-Friendly

Some types of bread are not for people who have diabetes, but you can eat wheat chapatis, especially whole wheat chapatis.

Wheat is rich in minerals such as magnesium and potassium that help you recover faster. Magnesium, especially, has proven to slow down the absorption of glucose in your blood and improve the production of insulin.

Consuming chapatis every day will reduce insulin resistance and boost insulin sensitivity. Zinc in wheat chapatis also plays a significant role in reducing sugar levels.

• Good For Digestion

Wheat chapatis contain a good amount of dietary fibre that is extremely beneficial if you’re always constipated or have problems emptying your bowels.

IBS patients are suggested to eat wheat chapatis every day when they have constipation as the fibre content in chapatis can help the stool pass easily.

Consuming chapatis every day can help you improve your overall digestion and reduce acidity too.

• Rich in Iron

Anaemia is a common problem these days and doctors keep prescribing iron medicines to treat it.

But what if I told you that you can get your daily iron requirement fulfilled from your meals? Studies explain that eating wheat chapatis are rich in iron.

You can also add some fenugreek leaves, spinach paste to your wheat chapati dough to make it richer in iron. Try out various iron-rich wheat chapati recipes.

• Rich in Protein

Wheat chapatis or whole wheat chapatis contain a decent quantity of protein. Consuming 4 chapatis can give you 12% of your daily protein intake.

You may add curd, paneer or some protein-rich gravy to the wheat dough to increase the protein amount.

Wheat chapatis can be healthier than rice as they have good amounts of protein as well as healthy carbs.

• Rich in Phosphorus = Good Bones

Phosphorus is said to be a building block of calcium absorption in your bones. We may not get enough phosphorus every day from the regular meals we consume, hence, we need wheat chapatis.

The zinc in chapatis makes it easier for other minerals to get absorbed, especially phosphorus. Our bones can be very healthy if we get enough phosphorus.

• Boosts Energy Levels

The complex carbs in wheat chapatis can boost our energy levels. Since wheat chapatis are made without using oils or ghee, they’re good for your body.

Avoid using too much ghee as its topping, it adds fats to your wheat chapatis.

While wheat chapatis boost energy, they also keep you full and satiated for longer hours. Each wheat chapati has 70-90 gms of energy-giving carbs.

If you love working out at the gym, whole wheat chapatis are for you.

• Improves Blood Circulation and HDL

Wheat contains many enriching minerals and vitamins that can boost blood circulation and flush out toxins from your arteries and veins.

The deposited plaque that causes LDL or bad cholesterol levels to rise is also flushed out.

In this way, wheat chapatis are healthier for blood pressure and cholesterol patients too.

• Good For Children

Some children do not eat food properly. They skip their meals and only want candies and sweets.

This is not acceptable as the kids need more nutrition to grow well.

Even if you feed your child one chapati, it will give them good amounts of B vitamins, Vitamin E, copper, zinc, iodine, manganese, silicon, potassium, calcium and other mineral salts.

• Good For Skin

The multiple vitamins and minerals in wheat or whole wheat can make chapatis a very enriching food for your skin.

Many studies explain that wheat chapatis can nourish your skin and prevent sun damage too. The antioxidants in wheat flour cleanse your skin and reduce the risk of having acne.

• Good For Hair

Wheat flour has zinc, potassium, fibres, and B vitamins that improve the texture of your hair.

If you eat fresh wheat chapatis every day, in moderation, of course, your hair will become smooth, shiny and lustrous. Wheat, like many grains, can protect your hair from damage.

• Calorie-Friendly

One chapati has only 70 calories but feels like you ate so well. It is good for people who are health conscious and want to lose weight.

You can strike a balance between healthy carbs and fibres, between rice and wheat chapatis, to lose weight effectively.

Side-Effects of Wheat Chapati:

Wheat can be a good source of nutrients for sure, but it is certainly not the healthiest for everyone.

Wheat also contains gluten which can be allergic. Wheat is also high in oxalates which may cause many allergic reactions.

While some IBS patients may benefit from consuming wheat chapatis, some IBS patients may get diarrhoea due to excessive fibre content. (Lybrate)

• Wheat chapatis should be eaten in moderation or you’ll consume too much gluten.

• Gluten can cause gastritis, IBS, acidity and other digestive disorders.

• Eczema, rashes and skin problems are rare side effects of wheat chapatis.

• Some people are allergic to all kinds of grain flour.

• Adding ghee or oil to your wheat chapatis can add to the fat content and make you gain extra weight too.

Conclusion:

Enjoy three-four chapatis every day with freshly chopped and cooked vegetables. You will enjoy a lot of health benefits but the key is to eat wheat chapatis in moderation.