Love eating digestive biscuits? Here's what the nutritionist says | The Times of India (2024)

FAQs

Do digestive biscuits actually help digestion? ›

Fiber content

Unlike many store-bought cookies that are low in fiber, digestive biscuits made with whole wheat flour and oats are healthier – thanks to the dietary fiber they offer. This good-for-you fiber aids digestion and keeps the gut healthy.

Nutritionists often emphasize that one should exercise moderation when consuming these biscuits. While they can be a source of dietary fibre and be a satisfying snack, overindulging in these biscuits can lead to an excessive intake of calories and added sugars.

Digestive biscuits for weight loss can be a useful addition to a diet plan as long as they are enjoyed carefully and are part of a well-rounded eating regimen. With their decreasing sugar and fat levels and a very good dose of fibre from whole wheat flour, they offer a satisfying and relatively healthy snack.

Digestive biscuits use Sodium bicarbonate, an over-the-counter antacid that relieves heartburn and stomach upset. However, too much of it makes you feel thirsty, and have bad stomach cramps, and gas.

A digestive biscuit, sometimes described as a sweet-meal biscuit, is a semi-sweet biscuit that originated in Scotland. The digestive was first developed in 1839 by two Scottish doctors to aid digestion. I'm sure they'd be wholemeal crackers maybe.. BUT they are sold worldwide and are also available in America.

"I've just Googled it and it turns out in 1839 two Scottish doctors developed these to help with the aid of the digestive system because they've got sodium bicarbonate in them, which is a laxative.

Sweet, fatty biscuits trigger our brain's reward circuit, flooding it with dopamine and making us feel good. We also tend to find crunchy foods satisfying to eat, from a sensory perspective. So, it's easy to see why we soon reach for another biscuit seconds after the first.

Despite rumours that it is illegal for them to be sold under their usual name in the US, they are, in fact, widely available in the imported food sections of grocery stores and by mail order.

Eating biscuits daily, especially those high in sugar and refined flour, may contribute to weight gain and potential health issues like increased blood sugar levels. Additionally, excessive consumption of processed snacks may impact dental health and provide empty calories without essential nutrients.

However, it's important to note that eating a lot of high-calorie snacks like biscuits at night can lead to weight gain and disrupt sleep. So, it's best to enjoy biscuits in moderation and not make it a habit of eating them every night.

What is the healthiest biscuit? ›

If is recommended to limit your intake of biscuits to no more than two per day. Eating too many biscuits can lead to weight gain and other health problems.

Biscuit also increases cholesterol:

We usually eat biscuits as tea-time snacks, but one should avoid consuming them too much. According to research in Australia, biscuits are processed foods which contain large amounts of saturated fats.

Do note that Almond cookies are supposed to be consumed 2 at a time (16g) but for comparison sake, we have indexed it to 100g. A high carb digestive biscuit does not really help a diabetic to keep their sugar levels in check, on the contrary would continue to spike blood sugar levels.

Both biscuits and cookies are often considered as empty calorie foods, which means they provide instant energy, but have low nutritional value. This is why most biscuits and cookies are low in essential nutrients like vitamins, fiber or minerals, which may lead to imbalance in diets and poor overall health.

The most 'effective' digestifs are generally considered to be those containing medicinal herbs such as fennel, anise and caraway - think something along the lines of Jagermeister - which have been used to settle stomachs for thousands of years.

A digestif is an alcoholic beverage served after a meal, traditionally believed to aid digestion even though there is not strong evidence to support this. When served after a coffee course, it may be called pousse-café. Digestifs are usually taken neat.

Digestive biscuits with Sodium-bi-carbonate and baking soda than normal biscuits work as an antacid. Thus the biscuits control the acidity problems naturally.

Their high fiber content may provide certain benefits like reduced cravings, improved digestion, and potential weight loss. However, if consumed in excess, certain ingredients in these biscuits like malt extract, raising agents, and vegetable oils may cause certain side effects such as flatulence, nausea, and cough.