Crackers: health benefits and harms

It is difficult to find a person who has never consumed crackers as a snack. But few thought that such "meals" are harmful. The benefits and harms of crackers are revealed in their composition and manufacturing method. In order not to spoil your health, it is worth understanding the intricacies of choice, properties, benefits, dangers, methods of preparation and the possibility of using them for various diseases.

The chemical composition of crackers

Crackers in the traditional sense are slices of bread cut into equal parts and re-baked in an oven. They are rye or wheat, based on pea or oat flour, from buns. Products are rich in useful vitamins and minerals:

• vitamins of groups A, B, E, PP;
• organic compounds (starch, fiber);
• potassium, calcium, magnesium;
• iron, phosphorus, copper, cobalt, iodine;
• zinc, molybdenum, selenium.

All useful components take part in digestion, improving metabolism, saturating the body with energy, regulating the metabolism of phospholipids in the liver. The lack of elements affects the work of the intestines, the digestion of food, therefore nutritionists advise replacing fresh baked goods with breadcrumbs that are useful in their properties.

How many calories are in breadcrumbs

Crackers are high in calories, so their use requires dosing. The number of calories depends on the recipe and properties of the baked product. The presence of additives in the form of raisins, chocolate drips and other complementary ingredients will increase the energy properties of the product and add calories. The use of such a product will not be beneficial, especially when losing weight.

From black bread

The benefits of black bread rusks are the following properties and features:

• lower calorie content compared to white varieties;
• low glycemic index: important for people with diabetes;
• fewer simple carbohydrates;
• saturated vitamin complex.

Dried black toast is useful not only for those who have decided to lose weight, but also for those who do not adhere to diets. Calorie content - 335 calories. Such products will definitely not bring harm, but they will enrich the body with fiber and optimize digestion.

White bread

Less use of white bread rusks. Wheat flour products contain more carbohydrates, moreover simple ones that cause changes in blood sugar levels. This does a lot of harm to the body. Caloric content 100g - 400 kcal. A high indicator suggests that the use of white crackers can be harmful, as it provokes the accumulation of body fat.

Types of rusks

Their classification depends on the useful or harmful properties of crackers, which is determined by 2 positions:

• simple;
• rich.

For the first type, both rye and wheat flour are used, combining them. The properties of the dough are characterized by a lower water content.

The manufacturing process begins with baking the dough, pre-distributed in special forms.

After the product has cooled, it is cut into equal parts. When drying, the humidity should not exceed 10%; it is useful to alternate it with cooling. When the last batch is ready, the healthy slices are packaged.

Butter dried bread, the benefits of which are reduced due to additional impurities, is baked from premium white flour. Wheat rusks will contain sugar, fatty components, fruit and other additives. The cooking process is the same, but the properties are also designed to satisfy the gastronomic needs of customers, while less attention is paid to possible harm.

Why crackers are useful

Due to the lightweight structure, the benefits of rusks for the stomach are greater. Useful properties of dried flour products:

• easier to digest;
• fill the body with energy due to carbohydrates;
• contribute to the normalization of the intestines;
• suppress flatulence (relevant and useful for the elderly).

During drying, the structure changes, becoming acceptable for absorption by the stomach without overloading. A useful property is the increased shelf life of crackers.

Is it possible to eat crackers when losing weight and on a diet

All nutritionists advise patients on a diet to replace loaves and rolls with healthy rye croutons or bran bread. The bottom line is this: not a single cell of the body fully functions if it does not receive carbohydrates - the main source of energy.

Due to the fact that fresh flour products contain much more of them than is permissible for a losing weight person, there is a useful alternative. Consuming dried slices out of proportion to the fresh loaf eaten. The latter actively increases appetite and is absorbed in large quantities, harming the diet. Oven dried rusks, which are beneficial in preserving all the beneficial properties of trace elements, are a satisfying and healthy addition to salad, herbs and eggs.

What ingredients to combine croutons with to make it tasty and healthy, in the video:

Are crackers useful for pregnant and lactating mothers

The benefits of crispy goodies for pregnant and lactating women are controversial. The expectant mother should take care not only of her own health, but of the absence of harm to the baby. We'll have to exclude:

• crackers with the taste of crab, boiled pork, caviar and other harmful additives;
• products of little-known manufacturers;
• goods with no expiration date;
• crispy wedges with raisins and other fillings.

It is not known how the child will react to the accompanying components, so the benefits of breadcrumbs for breastfeeding are questioned. It is not recommended to purchase goods of "own manufacture" of supermarkets: not every store has a decent base that meets technological requirements. Yes, and as a raw material could be used "stale" product, the useful properties of which are minimal.

The harm to the child consists not only in diathesis, but also in serious disorders of the digestive and other systems.

At what age can crackers be given to children

Young parents love to pamper their children with various sweets, crackers are no exception. The issue of acquaintance of the baby with breadcrumbs is especially acute during the period when teeth begin to cut.

Pediatricians insist on observing several nuances:

• many formulations contain a protein to which a child may be allergic, therefore such a delicacy is harmful to children under 1 year old;
• do not give to children with gluten intolerance and other individual components;
• store dryers are often harmful due to the content of leavening agents, flavors, enhancers, sugar, poppy seeds and other food additives (such a product is allowed after 3 years);
• drying, in which there is nothing but flour, water, salt and yeast, is introduced into the children's diet from 8 months;
• drying is useful for a child when teething (relieve pain and itching), it is better to use a nibbler;
• the best option is home dryers, which have retained all the useful properties.

The benefits and harms of crackers for various diseases

Often, in case of diseases, rusks are bought, the benefits and harms of which are determined in advance. With various diseases, dried bakery products are harmful, so you need to carefully study the properties, recommendations and contraindications.

With gastritis and ulcers

For a start, it is worth excluding harmful flavored foods with flavor enhancers, spices and seasonings. Instead, use crackers without additives. The daily norm is no more than 200 g. Crackers are harmful to eat dry, preferably with water or a light side dish. The recommended wheat rusks are harmless and are allowed for all forms of gastritis.

With pancreatitis

With such a disease, many products are banned, and only healthy wheat products are allowed from dried delicacies. Buttery, rye, spicy are harmful, therefore prohibited. Dried croutons are consumed with kefir, broth, tea, or added to soup and broth. The doctor allows the intake of such "hard" food no earlier than 2 weeks of treatment (so as not to damage the mucous membranes of the esophagus).

With diabetes mellitus

Purchased crackers are strictly prohibited due to the harm they contain of preservatives and salts, which lead to edema, impair the functioning of the heart and kidneys. These areas are most at risk due to abnormal blood sugar levels.

What is healthier than crackers or fresh bread

Experts agreed that the percentage of usefulness of crackers is higher than that of a fresh analogue. At the same time, soft and fresh bread is prohibited in the first stages of treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.

The benefits of crackers are due to their properties: a longer shelf life and elimination of bloating. Homemade rusks with the benefit of quickly recovering the stomach after poisoning are easily digested and do not burden it. Doctors advise to refrain from baking and flour products, and instead introduce croutons into the daily diet, which have become an easy but satisfying snack.

Homemade crackers recipes

There are several ways to make healthy homemade crackers, the most important thing is that this does not require special devices, and the taste of the finished product can be varied with any additives.

In the oven

The method of cooking crackers, which is popular among housewives, using the oven, allows you to get aromatic and crunchy croutons. Properties of the first recipe:

• prepare a loaf of yesterday's white or rye bread;
• add 4 tbsp. l. tomato paste and the same amount of olive oil;
• herbs and spices if desired.

To create a dressing, mix herbs, pasta, spices and oil. Then the main ingredient is cut into slices and smeared with the resulting mass. They are laid out on a baking sheet, sent to a preheated cabinet for 30 minutes.

Sweet tooths will love the raisin recipe. The use of crackers with raisins is in their properties, where the percentage of potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese is high. These trace elements are easily absorbed and strengthen blood vessels and heart.Useful for people in the period after surgery, in case of poisoning But you will have to refrain from such delicacies in the presence of ulcers.

For cooking you will need:

• milk - 75 ml;
• sugar - 50 g;
• wheat flour - 200 g;
• egg - 1 pc.;
• butter - 25 g;
• raisins - 50 g;
• yeast - 10 g;
• vanilla tincture - 1 tsp

Add yeast and sugar to warm milk, stir. Add flour and stir until smooth, send to a warm place for half an hour - during this time the dough will have time to rise. When the mixture rises 2-3 times, pour a homogeneous mass of butter, eggs and sugar into a container with dough, add vanilla tincture or vanilla sugar. Slowly adding flour, knead the dough, which should also rise. After the volume has increased, add the washed raisins to taste.

The dough is infused for 20 minutes, after which several identical bars are formed, greased with an egg, sent to the oven at a temperature of 190 ^aboutC for 20 minutes. You can treat guests with ready-made buns at a tea party, but to get crackers, you need to leave the product for 12 hours, cut into pieces 1 cm thick and send to the oven to dry.

In a few minutes at 180 ^aboutWith, ruddy and fragrant products with all useful properties are obtained. To increase the taste and benefits of vanilla rusks, they add healthy fruit pieces, nuts, zest.

In a frying pan

Rye croutons are prepared with benefits for the body as follows:

1. Black bread is cut into cubes.
2. Lay out in a preheated pan.
3. Stir regularly, fry over medium or low heat.
4. After 10 minutes of active stirring, garlic, adjika, grated cheese, dried herbs, salt are added to enhance the taste.
5. Stirred for another 10 minutes.

Spread crackers on paper towels "dry" for 10 minutes, when the fragrant slices cool down, you can enjoy the rich taste.

How else you can cook croutons with benefit is shown here:

The harm of crackers and contraindications

The benefits of bread crumbs for weight loss are great, and the harm is minimal. The negative effect on the digestive system is due to the violation of manufacturing and the predominance of preservatives and additives of artificial origin in the composition. Harm and irregular consumption of dried kalach, entailing weight gain, intestinal congestion (when consumed on an empty stomach), exacerbation of ulcers.

Contraindications to use:

• ulcer;
• chronic inflammatory processes;
• bowel disease (a distinctive not the most "useful" property of the black variety is high acidity, which can irritate the walls of the stomach);
• frequent heartburn (additives are not recommended in this case, it is better to prepare plain or vanilla crackers).

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of crackers are disproportionate concepts, since there are much more beneficial properties. Uncomplicated croutons not only diversify the main dishes, but also support health. And most importantly, it is a simple and budget option.

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