Cereals are considered one of the healthiest foods; they can be used to prepare many dishes, ranging from simple cereals to multi-component casseroles. But, as recent studies have shown, excessive consumption of cereals can be harmful. Why are cereals dangerous?
Most people consider cereals to be an undeniably healthy product, many of the cereals are inexpensive, dishes made from them are easy to prepare, cereals contain useful fiber, as well as many vitamins and trace elements.
But not all cereals are equally useful, and some of them can have an extremely negative effect on health. A huge disadvantage of almost all cereals is the presence of a large amount of starch, which, when it enters the stomach, turns into glucose. Based on this, doctors have come up with a certain indicator - the glycemic index. The most harmful foods are those whose glycemic index is 100 or close to this figure.
An ideal porridge for breakfast, oatmeal contains the following trace elements: aluminum, iron, boron, in addition, oatmeal contains almost all vitamins from group B. Oatmeal is rich in fiber: the glycemic index of this cereal is 55, from which we can conclude that porridge does not cause sharp spikes in blood sugar. However, in addition to useful elements, oatmeal contains phytic acid, which interferes with the assimilation of incoming calcium, and even removes the existing one. Lack of calcium can lead to problems with the skeletal system.
Millet contains quite a lot of B vitamins, as well as magnesium, which ensures the full functioning of the nervous system. In terms of sugar content, millet porridge is also in the middle of the ranking. Millet is considered one of the least allergenic cereals, therefore it is suitable for baby food. But excess millet porridge can also be harmful, especially for people with digestive upsets. Millet porridge causes bloating, increased gas formation, flatulence.
One of the first cereals used for feeding small children. It's filling and nutritious, easy to digest, and a source of protein. However, with this cereal, everything is ambiguous: there are practically no vitamins and trace elements in semolina, but there is a lot of sugar, the glycemic index is equated to pure glucose, so overweight people need to limit the use of this porridge. In addition, semolina contains a lot of gluten, which can provoke necrosis of the villi in the intestines, which absorb nutrients. The phytin contained in semolina interferes with the absorption of calcium, so you should not feed young children too often with semolina, this can lead to the development of rickets.
Brown and dark brown and unprocessed rice is considered healthy. Processed white rice contains practically no vitamins, but at the same time it has a high glycemic index and a fairly high calorie content.
Pearl barley contains many amino acids, the presence of which has a beneficial effect on the health and appearance of a person. People who periodically consume barley porridge stay young longer, they later develop wrinkles. Barley porridge has the lowest glycemic index, so it is suitable for dietary nutrition. Barley is considered a cereal with the richest vitamin and mineral composition. But too much barley can also be harmful due to the high amount of protein that contains gluten. It is believed that an excess of barley meals can lead to a decrease in sexual desire in men.
Buckwheat is the undisputed leader in the content of proteins and complex carbohydrates. Nutritionists recommend buckwheat porridge, it is suitable for early feeding. Buckwheat contains almost two dozen amino acids essential for humans, as well as many useful trace elements and vitamins. Eating buckwheat porridge increases endurance and resistance to various diseases. Of the harmful properties of buckwheat porridge, only the following is noted: the iron contained in cereals is very poorly absorbed.
Any product, even the most useful one, can cause irreparable harm to the body, so it is better to alternate cereals without giving preference to the same cereals.
