A nutritionist turns a popular breakfast dish into flour: a direct path to obesity

Together with Artūras Sujeta, Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition Specialist, Lithuanian Sports University (LSU), we take a closer look at the benefits of pancakes and what will happen if we choose this dish for breakfast every day.

Unfortunately, for pancake lovers, the news is bad: According to one nutritionist, plain flour pancakes are nothing more than a mixture of carbohydrates and fats. They contain a very small amount of fiber, also called fiber, which we normally get from whole grains, seeds, and nuts.

Not only are pancakes baked in white flour and flavored with a significant amount of sugar already becoming high enough in calories, moreover, people add various additives that really don’t save the day. For example, it is flavored with honey, so the body also receives a lot of fructose. And the latter, according to research, are extremely consumed by Western society. Recent studies suggest that excessive glucose and fructose intake is correlated with Alzheimer’s, a neurodegenerative disease.

By the way, we should not forget about baking pancakes: if they are baked with a large amount of oil, baked and burned, they become not only useless, but also harmful.

“Overcooking, high oil levels are associated with cancer diseases, and low fiber levels are detrimental to intestinal peristalsis. Plus, pancakes are high in calories, which accumulate as adipose tissue, “said Dr. A. Sujeta.

So consuming regular flour pancakes with various sugar-filled condiments on a daily basis is really useless. If they become our normal food, there is a high risk of obesity and cholesterol problems.

Still, completely eliminating pancakes from your diet and suffering without eating is definitely not worth it.

“Pancakes can be enjoyed during Mardi Gras and other festivities, but only they should keep this meal. Drinking pancakes for breakfast every day is not good, it is worthless, said Dr. A. Sujeta.

– But I would like to emphasize that during the holidays, everything is fine. There are even restaurants in America that are called, for example, “Vascular Killer” and there is a serving of pancakes with bacon, sour cream, etc. But such a dish will raise your cholesterol and harm your health. “

Healthier alternatives are possible

A nutritionist offers examples of how pancakes can be made into a better side dish. One option is oatmeal pancakes, which will have a lower glycemic index.

“People who exercise can use them to supplement their body with higher quality carbohydrates. Still, it will still be processed food, but a better alternative, said the interlocutor.

– If we ignite the imagination and we are not lazy, we can turn pancakes into a very healthy dish, especially before physical activity. We can take the same teaspoon of honey, pour 20 g of Spanish sage seeds over it, make a dough with which we will eat the dish and obtain omega-3 acids, as well as fiber, which will improve the digestive process ”.

Another option is buckwheat pancakes. And often considered healthy, banana pancakes aren’t really any better than plain flour. The same goes for carrot pancakes due to their high glycemic index.

Is fruit for pancakes a good option?

“There is a problem with the fruit because we increase the amount of fructose. If we cut them and eat them fresh with pancakes, it will be a little better, but if we cut them in the batter and bake them, there will be nothing good,” said Dr. A. Subject.

A common mistake people make, according to a nutritionist, is using sweeteners instead of sugar.

“Recent studies show that the sweetener sucralose, which is added to pancake batter and is said to have fewer calories, when used in conjunction with sugar does a lot of bad things. A person secretes more insulin from the pancreas and, in the long run, it can end in diabetes ”, warned the interlocutor.

And the potato pancakes?

“Potatoes are not a product that promotes obesity. But the consumption of potatoes, yes. If the potato is grated and fried on the fat of animal origin or even on olive oil, it will have a lot of calories and sugar: potato starch . This is basically a bad choice. If we want to reduce the problem, we fry the ghee in butter. That fat will give some omega-6 fatty acids “, explained Dr. A. Sujeta.

The nutritionist listed the best options for breakfast:

– oatmeal, to which freeze-dried fruit can be added;
– Black bread sandwich with avocado and tomato
– Lean meat appetizer with black bread or chips
– chia pudding: mix chia seeds with almond milk, leave it overnight, mix the kiwi in the morning;
– It can be a traditional fruit salad mixed with Greek yogurt or coconut milk.