In these fast-paced lifestyles, we are always falling back upon quick ways to do things.
This also includes our meals. While breakfast should be the ‘king meal’ of the day, people lean on quick-fix, ready-to-eat and processed foods such as cornflakes.
Cornflakes and milk, or just plain cornflakes and fruits are one of the easiest breakfast picks.
Most families like to dig into different brands and flavours of cornflakes every morning. But is eating cornflakes daily actually good or bad for you?
Come, let us know some of the benefits and side effects of cornflakes.
Cornflakes offer variety
What has made cornflakes even more appealing overtime are the variants such as strawberry, mixed fruit, almond and organic honey.
They are relatively low in fat, which might be one of the reasons for their success. But they also have sugar and added salt (sodium).
Cornflakes are low in nutrients and have low fibre so there is poor satiety. People will be hungry soon again. Also, they are bad for the heart and general health.
The British Heart Foundation suggests that as a wholegrain cereal, cornflakes are not a good choice for breakfast when eaten alone. Add a fruit to make your first meal of the day filling.
Facts about cornflakes you should know
The nutrition expert highlighted the following points about cornflakes:
1. Cornflakes is refined food
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, there are many health risks when it comes to consumption of heavily processed foods. Some of them can increase cancer risk. Heavily processed foods often include unhealthy levels of added fat, sugar and sodium that make the food taste better, but too much of them leads to serious health issues. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure are some of health issues.
2. Cornflakes have additives
Food additives play an important role in improving the taste, colour and smell of food. They end up altering the food’s nutritional structure, according to MDPI.
3. Cornflakes have sugar
Dr Frank Hu, who is a professor of nutrition at the prestigious Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, concedes that there are effects of added sugar intake like higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. They are all connected to an “increased risk for heart attack and stroke.” Cornflakes also have a high glycemic index – almost 82 – which is not good for anyone fighting diabetes.
4. High calories form an important part of cornflakes
The International Journal Of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity shared that consumption of high calorie foods can cause weight gain.
5. Cornflakes usually have high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
As per Plos One, there is an evidence that suggests that increased consumption of fructose, possibly via HFCS, can induce metabolic dysregulation.
So, now that you know the side effects of cornflakes, it’s best to eat them when there aren’t many healthy breakfast options. Or when you choose to eat them, exercise quantity control! Everything is good to eat in moderation, and cornflakes aren’t no different.
