A lot of people have biscuits daily. They come in many flavors and many looks. They are great at teatime and with coffee too. Chocolate and cream biscuits are the most popular. But are biscuits healthy?
Biscuits are mainly wheat flour-based. They can be made from whole grains too. Whole grain biscuits are healthy for you. They are also nutritious. But you can also find biscuits with sugar, cream, chocolate, etc. Those are not healthy and can contain lots of calories.
So, it can vary if biscuits are healthy or not. If you are a health enthusiast, this question can strike your mind. We are here to answer your queries.
What Are Biscuits?
Biscuits are made from refined flour and can be found in many shapes. Around the world, you will find biscuits firm, leavened, and flat.
Different ingredients and flavors are used to make biscuits, like chocolate, sugar, jam, icing, cinnamon, or ginger. Those can vary too. There are biscuits with cream inside them and biscuits that are chocolate coated.
Sugar-coated biscuits are common too. They are consumed all over the world and have a good shelf life.
Most North Americans call hard sweet biscuits “cookies”. They use “biscuit” for a loaf of leavened soft bread.
Nutrition Facts of Biscuits
According to the USDA, 45 grams of a standard biscuit should have –
- Calories: 166
- Carbohydrates: 19.3g
- Saturated Fats: 8.5g
- Sodium bicarbonate: 441 mg
- Sugars: 1.8g
- Protein: 3.2g
- Fiber: 1.1g
- Iron: 1.2mg
- Folate: 54.4 mg
- Calcium: 31.5mg
One biscuit should have these nutrients. Here, you can see biscuits provide a lot of calories. They are high in fibers and sugars. They contain a small number of minerals too.
Are Biscuits Carbs or Protein?
Now, we come to the big question. Are biscuits carbs or proteins? Or are they unhealthy fats?
Well, you can see the nutrients. Biscuits contain 19.3 grams of carbohydrates. They may have 3.2 g of sugar too.
You know, sugars are also highly processed carbohydrates. That means biscuits have 20 grams+ carbohydrates whereas only 3.2-gram protein. So, biscuits are carbs. They are not protein or unhealthy fats.
Biscuit Health Benefits
You can consider biscuits as comfort food. Some biscuits are good for your health, like a whole grain biscuit.
Here are some health benefits you can have from biscuits.
Quick Energy
It’s crucial to eat appropriately when you exercise regularly so that you can get the most out of your workout.
You may find it harder to prepare a pre-workout meal when doing your morning workout daily. You don’t want to get hunger pangs. Not eating and working out is not a great combination.
So, eating one or two biscuits will not be too much if you do not want to prepare something.
Easy Digest Option
Fiber has several good health benefits, as we all know. You might be suggested to have a low-fiber food intake.
You may even get professional medical advice for different reasons (stomach surgery, bowel syndrome, heart disease) because low-fiber food is easy for digestion.
Biscuits are a good option here because they have low fiber content and are tasty too!
Provide More Fiber
Some biscuits have more fiber than others, like digestive biscuits. So, looking for options that have more fiber? Biscuit is an absolute savior here.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
A biscuit provides a minuscule number of essential vitamins and minerals. That makes biscuits good for health. They are high in sodium bicarbonate.
Are Oat Biscuits Healthy?
Oat biscuits are comparatively healthier. Oats are refined grains and beneficial for health. It has other ingredients too. As you will see, oat biscuits will do the same.
Here are some health benefits of oat biscuits:
- Oat biscuits have a higher (though not much) amount of protein than others.
- A higher fiber content.
- Higher in minerals including iron, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium, which are all essential for good physical health.
- They have comparatively less sugar.
- Fewer calories can be found in oats. And also provide extra essential nutrients.
- Men and women need iron, which can be found in oat biscuits.
- They aid in the development of lean muscular mass.
- A great shelf life.
Now you understand why oat biscuits are superior to others.
They don’t have high-fat content. The high fiber content in oat biscuits will make you feel full for a long time. Also, they are a great option if you are on a diet or building muscles.
Are Digestive Biscuits Healthy?
Digestive biscuits are semi-sweet. They have a crumpled texture. You can find many types of digestive biscuits in the market. They’re quickly gaining popularity as a healthier alternative to unhealthy snacks.
Most biscuit brands emphasize their high fiber content as it has a good role in promoting digestive health. Adding more fibers to everyday diets has a positive impact. But are digestive biscuits healthy too?
USDA says a 30-gram of digestive biscuit should have 150 calories, fiber (2 g), and carbohydrates (20 g).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is biscuits junk food?
Sweet beverages and snacks, lollipops, chocolates, chips, crunchy snacks, potato chips, biscuits, fast foods, cakes, pies, jam, and honey are all examples of junk food. You can see that it includes biscuits too.
Though one might think that only unhealthy foods are junk foods, they are not. Foods that are “discretionary choices” can be referred to as junk foods.
Is it ok to eat biscuits every day?
Eating three Marie biscuits or two cream crackers every day should not be a problem. But it would be best if you did not have more than that. Eating a lot of biscuits every day is terrible for your overall health.
Are biscuits good for weight loss?
If you are on a keto diet, a biscuit is not an option to consider. But in other cases, having one biscuit or two will not be a problem.
Eating a whole grain biscuit will make your stomach full for a long time. That makes biscuits good for health. This will help in your weight loss. Remember not to overeat!
Will biscuits make me fat?
Biscuits that have a lot of sugar in them will make you fat. But you won’t see weight gain if you go for a healthier one. That will be even better. Cream and chocolate are not good for your health.
Final Words
So, are biscuits healthy? You know the answer now! Some biscuits are entirely healthy, and some are not. Many brands may preach their biscuits as healthy for a better sale. But in reality, they are not healthier than other junk foods.
Over consumption of biscuits may make you fat and unhealthy. Eating biscuits with high sugar and fat will affect it more. Avoiding those sugary biscuits will help to keep you in shape.
There are healthy biscuits too. Those can be good for your stomach and diet routine. Make sure to mark your consumption and do not overeat. If you are fond of biscuits, switch to healthier options. This will not ruin your diet chart.
