Summary feedback
For some years now, cornflakes have been marketed as a superior, obesity preventive breakfast in India. Indians are getting more aware about sugar content in their food and are avoiding fat in their diets, in the belief that it will help them to be slimmer and healthier.
The ingredients in Patanjali cornflakes mix have a high glycemic index and have a very high percentage of simple carbohydrates, so we have to be careful as consumption of high glycemic index carbs may increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
The foodnetindia Safety rating for this product :-
foodnetindia safety rating: 2 (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unsafe to very safe)
Corn flakes already contains corn, which is a grain with a significant percentage of simple carbohydrates and contains added sugar of 10.3 gm per 100 gm size which is high and harmful if eaten in large quantities.
In addition, many people like to add more sugar to their bowls of cornflakes and make the problem worse. A large number of people use it as a breakfast replacement and believe the clearly deceptive advertising by some brands (which carry small print that allows only a small, calorie restricted portion for obesity control).
This food is not safe as a meal replacement due to the large quantities that people eat and the very high percentage of simple carbohydrates in the meal. Such large glycemic loads can cause obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, non alocoholic fatty liver disease, high LDL and high triglycerides.
We advise people to eat more balanced meals with a good proportion of protein and healthy fats.
foodnetindia wholesomeness rating: 3 (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unbalanced nutrition profile to excellent nutrition profile)
Patanjali cornflakes mix is basically simple carbohydrates as it’s made of corn grills, the calorie content per 100 gm of it is 384 Kcal. This is not healthy for diabetics and those having lifestyle diseases but the healthy can consume it only in small quantities and not as a meal or breakfast replacement.
Foodnetindia advises you to ensure protein, vegetables, fruit and healthy fat are added to the meal and that Patanjali cornflakes does not exceed 30 percent of the meal by volume and by calorie contribution.
Ingredients of concern in Patanjali Cornflakes mix
- Sugar Syrup (6%)
- Iodized Salt (1.6%)
Sugar
This food product contains 10.3 gm sugar per 100 gm serving size. It does not specify which sugar has been used. This is important because different sugars have different metabolic effects. For example, Sucrose (Cane Sugar) is very different from Fructose (Fruit Sugar). Some foods use high fructose corn syrup which may be harmful in much lower quantities than sucrose. We believe that it is not responsible behaviour for a brand to not clearly state what ingredients have been used.
Sugar is a carbohydrate found naturally in a host of different foods from lactose in milk to the fructose in fruit and honey. In fact, we need some sugar in our diets to supply ready energy to fuel our muscles and keep our brains active. The problem is that many processed foods have added sugar which supplies energy in the form of calories – and very little else. This means our body has to draw on the nutrients from the rest of our diet to process it and this can affect our health, including our immunity – leaving us more prone to bugs and colds. A high intake of sugar causes our blood sugar levels to shoot up, giving us that feel-good ‘high’ followed by a crashing slump which leaves us tired, irritable and craving more sugary foods. It’s a vicious cycle that may be contributing to our weight problems as well as health concerns like diabetes and heart disease.
Salt
Patanjali cornflakes mix contains 690 mg salt per 100 gm, this is high as the WHO permissible limit for salt intake is 6 gm per day and we are aware that high sodium diets have been known to be the cause of high blood pressure, heart disease, etc.
The recommended daily intake of salt is between 1-3 grams. We at foodnetindia urge the manufacturers of Patanjali cornflakes to use less salt in their products so that it is safe for everybody to consume.
Other ingredients that are in the product but not a major source of concern in our opinion are:
- Corn Grits (91%)
- Malt Extract (1%)
- Soya Lecithin (0.4%): INS 332
- Antioxidants: INS 306
Disclaimer – The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information. foodnetindia encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
The ingredients list of the product may have changed since this page was published. Consumers are encouraged to read warnings, labels, ingredient lists, etc.
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