It was celebration time at home. With loads of guests, laughter was ringing through the house. They were all eagerly awaiting the hot chai and the yummy snacks.

“Oh, God!!! There is no Maida.

Padma, quickly go and get some Maida.

I could hear my Mother-in-law shouting in a frenzy from the Kitchen.

I thought to myself, Why was she asking for Maida when we had fresh Rice flour at home?!

Couldn’t she make something out of that?

Aren’t our age-old traditional snacks made from Rice flour?

So, why the sudden need for Maida?!

Most of us think that snacks made from Maida are richer in flavor and taste better than the ones made from Rice flour.

This is so untrue.

Indian traditional snacks taste much better when made from Rice flour. Not just that, they are definitely healthier when compared to Maida.

So, what is Maida?

Maida is nothing but processed and refined Wheat flour. As we all know, anything refined loses its natural value.

Maida is not a traditional staple of India. It was introduced into our culture by foreigners. So, we can easily say that we are not genetically wired to digest this particular food product.

Maida gets its rich white color by bleaching it with a particular chemical. The excess bleaching and processing make it lose its nutritional value.

Maida has a lot of harmful properties. It tends to stick on to our digestive system, making it difficult to absorb the essential nutrients from other foods. Slow digestion leads to low metabolism and also causes constipation in many.

Maida contains a high GI (glycemic index). Glycemic Index indicates the amount of glucose released into the body after consuming food. With its high GI content, Maida releases excess sugar into the body instantly. To cope with that, our Pancreas, secretes excess insulin. This over a while, in combination with other processed foods, can lead to a lot of health issues.

The excess glucose is also stored as fats. With zero fiber and excess glucose, consistent usage of Maida can also lead to obesity in many.

Studies have also shown that excess consumption of Maida can lead to an increase in bad cholesterol. This is bad for our heart. Doctors often advise heart patients to avoid consuming foods made from refined flours.

So, what is the best alternative for this low-nutrient food?!

The answer lies in the recipes of our Grand and Great Grand Mothers.

Rice Flour has an important position in our culture. It was the staple flour of South India.

Remember those beautiful intricate geometrical designs made in front of our houses. Our traditional

Kolam is drawn using rice flour. This is done to offer food to ants, bugs, insects, etc. This simple act of drawing a Kolam, starts our day with an act of generosity.

Rice flour is lighter and easier to digest. Suitable for all ages, Rice flour is rich in nutritional Value.

The high fiber content in Rice flour helps easy bowel movement, keeping the digestive system in shape. The high protein content helps in muscle building. Rice flour is also rich in many minerals, especially zinc, which helps boost our immunity.

Our ancestors were well aware of the nutritional and health benefits of Rice flour. They created a wide range of recipes and dishes to include them in our food system. Making traditional snacks using Rice flour and distributing them amongst family and friends was an important activity during festivals and other celebrations. They spread happiness and joy through these absolutely delicious yet completely healthy foods.

Time for us to choose wisely!