Bollywood actor Sonu Sood follows an extremely disciplined diet. Recently, during an interview, he shared details of his dietary habits, including his decision to eliminate chapatis from his meals.
“I follow a vegetarian diet, which some might find dull. When guests visit, they often joke that my meals look like hospital food. I just tell them, ‘This is my plate; eat whatever you like.’ While I stick to my strict diet, the rest of my family enjoys non-vegetarian dishes prepared by our amazing cooks,” he said during an interview with Jist.
Sood maintained that he has always been easygoing about food. Even in school, college, or adulthood he was never picky with food. However, he recently stopped eating chapatis. His daily routine includes a small bowl of dal and rice for lunch, while breakfast consists of options like egg-white omelettes, salads, avocados, sautéed vegetables, or papaya. Though he occasionally indulges in makki ki roti (cornbread), it’s a rare treat. “The key is eating healthy and staying consistent,” he added.
Rotis are made from whole wheat flour and serve as a primary source of carbohydrates. Eliminating them from your diet can have several effects on your body. However, it depends on your nutritional choices and overall lifestyle.
What happens when you eliminate roti from your diet?
- Reduced intake of carbohydrate: Rotis are full of complex carbohydrates and they provide long-term energy. If you completely eliminate roti from your diet, it may result in the drastic reduction of carbohydrate intake. This might be helpful for losing weight in some people. However, it could also cause tiredness, irritability, or an inability to concentrate if alternative sources of carbs are not incorporated.
- Fibre intake affected: Whole wheat rotis consist of good dietary fibre which is important for digestion. Eliminating these rotis without adding fibre from sources like oats, quinoa, fruits, or vegetables leads to conditions like constipation and poor gut health. It helps to control blood sugar and cholesterol.
- Impact on weight: If you have a sedentary lifestyle, cutting down rotis help reduce calories and eventually reduce weight. If you replace the rotis with high-calorie or refined substitutes, such as white bread or processed foods, you might end up gaining weight.
- Micronutrient Deficiencies: Rotis also consists of various essential nutrients, such as iron, magnesium, and B vitamins. To avoid deficiencies, it is best to continue including foods similar in nutrient density. This is especially important for those at risk for anaemia or low energy levels.
- Impact of blood sugar: For people managing diabetes, removing rotis might seem beneficial due to their carbohydrate content. However, since whole wheat rotis have a low glycaemic index replacing them with a high-GI food source would result in higher spikes of sugar in the blood.