There is a lot of Myths going around us about foods we consume. Did you know even healthy foods can be dangerous for health if not consumed in moderation? Eggs, for example are related to heart disease as their yolks contain a substantial amount of cholesterol — about 211 milligrams (mg) per large egg. But labelling eggs as “bad for your heart” is connecting the wrong dots, experts say. “Epidemiologic studies show that most healthy people can eat an egg a day without problems,” BURSTING MYTHS AROUND INSTANT NOODLES!
Maggi has been a fond memory of mine & perhaps most of our childhood. I remember being exceptionally excited about our evening snack which used to be Maggi most days. And the touch of mom’s secret recipe with some veggies in it used to add 5 stars to that Maggi. Maggi noodles came to India as an after-school meal in the 1980s and quickly became a staple snack for the country’s every family. It was fast, easy, & tasty. And due to growing popularity of this brand, it has recently been into a lot of controversies & intense speculations that instant noodles are bad for health because of high content of fat & carbs.
But the truth is No single food item is healthy or unhealthy. A balanced diet, moderation and an active lifestyle is what matters. The key here is to have a balanced diet that gives your body the nutrients it needs to function correctly. To get the proper nutrition from your diet, you should consume the majority of your daily calories in the form of proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrate, fats, fibre & water. These elements together make your daily diet nutritious. While protein acts as a structural component of cells and tissues; carbohydrates are one of the main types of nutrients and the one needed in the largest amounts by the body. Between 45 and 65 percent of calories should come from carbs. Fat is an essential part of your diet. It provides energy, absorbs certain nutrients and maintains your core body temperature. You need to consume fat every day to support these functions, but some types of fat are better for you than others. Vitamins and minerals are considered essential nutrients—because acting in concert, they perform hundreds of roles in the body. They help shore up bones, heal wounds, and bolster your immune system. They also convert food into energy, and repair cellular damage. However there is a fine line between getting enough of these nutrients (which is healthy) and getting too much (which can end up harming you). So understanding your nutrients and consuming them in the right quantity is the key. MAGGI Noodles for instance, strikes this balance really well. The balance between Protein, Carbohydrate and Fat in MAGGI noodles is very similar to the recommendations made by Indian Council of Medical Research. This includes even the newly launched MAGGI Oat noodles provides energy in this recommended ratio –Energy from carbohydrates (56%), protein (10%) and fats (33%).
According to Indian Council of Medicine & Research (ICMR) recommendation on Dietary Guidelines for Indians, the total fat in the diet should provide between 20-30% of total calories. The total fat intake in the diets can go up to 50g per person per day based on the level of physical activity and physiological status. I am a fitness freak myself, but I consume fat in some way daily. It’s important to consume fat to support daily functioning & is absolutely vital. Did you know Fat also helps you absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K, the so-called fat-soluble vitamins. Fat also fills your fat cells and insulates your body to help keep you warm. The fats your body gets from your food give your body essential fatty acids called linoleic and linolenic acid. Remember Excess of fat makes FAT but if consumed it right moderation it’s just what you need in your diet.
So if we go to see Maggi is not at all bad. The fat content per serve (per pack) in the various MAGGI noodles is 11-13g and is well within the recommended proportions. It is about 1/5th of the total fat requirement for a person’s daily diet. Even if we compare the fat content in some commonly consumed food items – one bowl of MAGGI Noodles had lesser fat than common food items like a vegetable cheese sandwich, veg biryani, a dosa, or an aloo parantha (Indian homemade bread with stuffed potatoes). Something to think about right? Hence it’s justified & significant to mention Maggi is good. it is important to understand the content of a food before tagging it negative. So even if you are consuming instant noodles everday, it’s not going to harm you. I mean look at us, we all grew up eating Maggi, and perfectly healthy today. And if we go to think, internationally everything is packed & instant, while is consumed daily.
I did some research on Maggi and to my amazement A MAGGI Noodles cake goes through 5 step cooking process before they are packed. At first they are steamed – very similar to the process of making Idli. Then they are baked. The 3rd step involves quick frying of about a minute and a half which reduces the moisture in the noodle & cooks the noodles cakes enough for them to remain stable for several months before they reach consumers. This also ensures that you can cook your MAGGI noodles in boiling water in just 2 minutes. Finally after drying & cooling the noodles are packed.
Maggi is loved because it broke monotony in food texture & flavor. And who wouldn’t love that, when its simple to cook & flavorful. It is very important to know what you are eating, but to evaluate that one needs a proper undertaking of 7 elements that are mentioned above that makes a balanced diet. Remember just one of these elements or just one food cannot give you nutrition. And like I always say, striking a balance is important, be it food or life 🙂
The Uptown Mommy 