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Momos contain refined flour and other harmful ingredients. Bleaching chemicals in the flour can damage the pancreas and disrupt insulin production in the body
Processed flour in momos tend to stick to the intestines and can cause inflammation throughout the body. (Representative Image/News18 Hindi)
Momos, a popular street food, are a favourite among children and youths alike. However, indulging too frequently in these dumplings could lead to serious health issues, potentially even hospitalisation. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has previously issued a warning against regular consumption of momos, highlighting various health risks associated with them.
How Momos Can Increase Blood Sugar
Clinical dietitian Dr. Priyanka Rohatgi explains that the flour used in momos is bleached with harmful chemicals like benzoyl peroxide to make it smoother and more elastic. These chemicals can damage the pancreas, leading to reduced insulin production and increased blood sugar levels, a dangerous scenario for diabetes patients.
How Momos Lead To Piles
Furthermore, momos are made from refined flour (maida), which lacks fibre. It begins to damage the intestinal lining’s mucus layer, leading to constipation. The combination of spicy chilli chutney with momos exacerbates the risk of piles or haemorrhoids, as the hard stool caused by constipation puts pressure on weak veins in the anus, causing them to burst.
Why Are Momos Harmful?
Dr. Rohatgi also warns that momos are made from refined flour which is heavily processed. This flour tends to stick to the intestines and can cause inflammation throughout the body. It contains no fiber at all. To whiten it, chemicals like azodicarbonamide, chlorine gas, benzoyl peroxide, or other bleaching agents are used. Traces of alloxan are also found in refined flour, which gives it a soft and crispy texture.
Momos not only contain refined flour but also several other ingredients that can harm the body. The bleaching chemicals in refined flour can damage the pancreas, affecting insulin production in the body.
The vegetables and chicken used in momos are often stale or spoiled. In fact, much of the chicken used comes from unhygienic and cheap sources, where E. coli bacteria are commonly found. This bacteria creates toxins in the stomach, leading to several health issues.
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