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| Ns. Zaqqi Ubaidillah, M. Kep., Sp. Kep. MB (Photo: Special). |
Flour-based food choices are now becoming favorites for people with busy schedules. Although it is easy to find and delicious, it turns out that this type of snack has the potential to have a negative impact on health. Ns. Zaqqi Ubaidillah, M. Kep., Sp. Kep. MB, an expert in endocrine and metabolic nursing as well as a lecturer in Nursing Science at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), explained the detrimental effects of consuming processed flour on human health.
“Refined flour can lead to many serious health conditions, including weight gain, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, cognitive impairment, food addiction, depression, cancer, and acne,” says Zaqqi.
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Furthermore, consuming refined flour, especially the white wheat flour that is commonly used in bread and processed foods, can contribute to weight gain and obesity. These refined flours tend to increase fat in the body and interfere with the fat oxidation process, which plays a role in burning fat for energy. In addition, refined flour consumption can also trigger inflammation of the gut microbiota, which can disrupt metabolism and lead to weight gain.
Consuming refined flour can also lead to insulin resistance, which is an important predictor of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. In addition, flour products contain a lot of alloxan. Alloxan is a chemical compound that can cause disruption to the pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin. Pancreatic beta cells are important for keeping blood glucose levels stable. “Alloxan in particular can damage pancreatic beta cells, which can eventually lead to diabetes,” he explains.
Insulin resistance caused by refined carbohydrate consumption also causes high blood pressure, or hypertension. Zaqqi suggests reducing refined carbohydrates as the first step in managing hypertension. A study explains that a diet low in refined carbohydrates leads to a significant reduction in blood pressure.
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Refined flour has been implicated as the cause of the increase in cardiovascular disease. He highlighted that refined carbohydrate consumption leads to blood sugar imbalances, systemic inflammation, and vascular damage, which can lead to heart disease. Over the decades, dietary fat has often been misinterpreted as the cause of cardiovascular disease. This mistake led to the development of the famous low-fat, high-carb dietary guidelines in the United States.
“It is important to know that there is a correlation between refined carbohydrate consumption and the risk of certain cancers, such as breast, colon, and endometrial cancer,” he said.
Research shows that refined carbohydrate intake increases insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which can trigger cell division and affect cancer risk. The impact of refined carbohydrates on cancer risk may be even greater when combined with other unhealthy components, such as food additives.
The impact of refined flour consumption can also be seen in cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Insulin resistance caused by refined carbohydrates can impair brain function, cause neuroinflammation, and increase the risk of cognitive impairment. Insulin resistance causes brain dysfunction by disrupting glucose transport to the brain, inducing neuroinflammation, altering synaptic plasticity (which compromises the brain's ability to learn and memorize), and stimulating the production of harmful compounds called advanced glycation end products in the brain.
He warns that even refined carbohydrates can trigger food addiction and increase the risk of depression. A diet high in refined carbohydrates can disrupt blood sugar balance and affect mood. Not only that, but refined flour consumption has also been linked to acne.
“We need to raise awareness of the dangers of refined carbohydrates for health and consider replacing carbohydrate sources with healthier options. For example, whole grains and non-wheat flour alternatives,” he said. (dev/wil/put)
