Most of us love to start our day with something that would be simple to make and would also save us time.
As a result, most of us tend to choose Maggi. No doubt It’s delicious and only takes a few minutes to cook.
However, as health consciousness has grown, we are now aware that Maggi is made up of maida flour and is, therefore, not a healthy choice. Therefore to get the same taste as regular Maggi and to save some time, most of us go for the so-called and marketed healthy variant of the Maggi called “Oats Maggi.”
However, is oats Maggi really healthy?
The answer is No.
Oats Maggi might be slightly better than regular Maggi, but it is not a healthy choice to include in your diet. Read on to find out why.
But first, let’s look at its nutritional value and ingredients.
Also read: No, Yippee Noodles Is Not Good For Your Health – Here’s Why
Nutritional value of oats Maggi
A 100g serving of oats Maggi provides:
- Calories: 445
- Carbohydrates: 63.5g
- Sugar: 3.1g
- Fat: 17.2g
- Protein: 9.1g
- Fiber:4g
- Sodium:1224mg
- Iron:3.7mg
Ingredients in oats Maggi
- Flours(oats,Refined wheat flour,Maize flour)
- Palm oil
- Gluten
- Iodised salt
- Thickeners(508,412)
- Humectants(451(i),452(i))
- Acidity regulators(330, 501(i), 500(i))
- Colour(150d)
- Flavour enhancer(635)
5 Reasons oats Maggi is not healthy
Not entirely made of oats
Oats Maggi is available in two varieties: grain shakti oats noodles and masala oats noodles.
When it comes to grain shakti, this oats Maggi variant is a better choice, but it is also not entirely made of oats(51% oats, 47% wheat, and the rest of maize flour). There isn’t much to complain about if you choose this oats Maggi variant.
However, if you choose masala oats noodle, which is marketed as nutri-licious, contain only 40% oats, and the rest is refined wheat flour or maida.
Combining oats with refined wheat flour and marketing it as nutri-licious is a deception.
Years of research have shown that eating maida-based foods has been linked to major issues such as weight gain, obesity, and digestive problems.
It has high levels of sodium
Whether it’s your regular, Atta, or oats Maggi, all contain high sodium levels.
The most surprising thing is that oats Maggi which is believed to be healthy, contains more sodium levels than regular and Atta Maggi.
As per American Heart Association, the ideal limit for daily sodium intake is 1500mg. However, a single serving(72) of oats Maggi comes with 887mg of sodium which is almost 60% of the ideal daily limit.
Not to forget that most people also add some pinch of salt from their side, resulting in excess sodium in the diet.
While some amount of sodium is important, too much can lead to high blood pressure, dehydration, stroke, kidney disease, and osteoporosis[1].
If you are already a BP or heart patient, Oats Maggi is not your healthy choice.
Not an ideal meal substitute
Maggi is often used as a replacement for proper meals, particularly by those who are pressed for time.
While oats may sound healthy, it does not provide the body with the essential nutrients that a proper well-rounded meal offers.
Over time, this can lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals.
Although it has an average amount of protein and iron, there are many other healthy, unprocessed sources of getting these nutrients.
Use of added color
Caramel color is one of the most widely used colors in food products worldwide.
While this food coloring is deemed safe by many authorities, some studies show its adverse effects on health.
In animal studies, caramel color (150d) has been found to contain a carcinogen called 4-MeI.
Moreover, it has also been found to increase blood pressure, cause server skin allergic reactions and damage the immune system[2].
Not gluten-free
While oats are generally gluten-free, Oats Maggi is not gluten-free.
This makes it unsuitable for people with gluten intolerance, as eating it even in small amounts might lead to health issues.
Is oats Maggi good for weight loss?
Oats Maggi is a highly processed food, and studies have shown that consuming processed food can lead to weight gain[3].
Also, oats Maggi is made up almost half of maida, which is difficult to digest and can cause digestive issues, resulting in a slower metabolism. A slow metabolism means that the body burns calories more slowly.
Moreover, oats Maggi is high in sodium, saturated fat, and calories, all of which are the root cause of weight gain.
So to conclude, oats Maggi cannot be considered good for weight loss due to its high level of processing, its maida content, and its high sodium, saturated fat, and calorie content.
Also read: Top 10 Healthiest Noodles Brands In India in 2022
Is oats Maggi better than Atta Maggi?
If we compare them nutritionally, oats Maggi is slightly better than atta Maggi because it has less calories, saturated fat, and sodium levels. In addition, oats Maggi also has more protein, fiber, and iron.
However, Atta Maggi comprises 85% atta whereas oats Maggi is only 40-50% oats with the addition of maida.
So even though the nutrient content of the oats might be a little higher, atta Maggi is actually the better choice overall.
Also read: Is Atta Maggi Healthy? Find Out The Truth!
Final words
Whether it is regular, atta, or oats Maggi, all of them are not nutritious as people are made to believe.
They are processed, high in calories, and sodium, with the addition of many additives, used to enhance the taste.
In fact, Nestle itself has admitted that Maggi is harmful to health[4].
So the next time you are in a hurry and need to eat something, go for a healthy meal full of nutrients.
Found this information helpful? Share it.
Here are a few other posts that might be helpful for you.
