7 Incredible Benefits of Sattu (Roasted Gram Flour)

It is difficult to understand why sattu has been ignored in diets constantly. The knowledge of the incredible benefits of sattu is now mostly left in rural households only. Sattu acts as a cooling agent in the body and is amazing for people living in tropical climates. Additionally, it provides a wide range of nutrients like fibre, iron, calcium, sodium, and magnesium. Consuming roasted gram flour is guaranteed to boost your immune system. Chana sattu benefits can be a complete health package ranging from helping with reducing weight to gaining strong bones. It is important to understand that while sattu is made from ‘roasted gram’, besan is made from ‘gram’ but not roasted.

Perhaps the reason for sattu’s limited reach is that it was always popular in North India. The holy grail of sattu’s nutrient benefits has not yet touched and reached other parts of India very well. For example, sattu sharbat is widely popular in Punjab, Bihar, UP, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal. It is the go-to drink for relief from the scorching heat in the streets.

Nutritional Value of Gram Flour

Here are the nutritional elements available in 100 grams of chickpea flour:

Source: USDA

Advantages of Sattu

Sattu has been hailed as a healthy choice in India for years. Here are a few reasons why:

1. A Great Energy Drink

Due to the high fibre and iron content, sattu sharbat is considered a great energy drink, and its health benefits are diverse. It replenishes several minerals in the body, unlike other drinks. Hence, if you want to maintain a healthy diet and an alert mind, sattu should be a part of your daily diet. Ideally, it is consumed post a workout session. Sattu promises to recharge your batteries with all the necessary nutrients. Additionally, sattu water or sharbat can be made to suit a wide range of thirsty taste buds.

2. Improve Your Digestion System

Sattu is also used to clean the stomach. A regular diet of sattu can relieve people from common gut issues like constipation. Sattu’s insoluble fibres help maintain a healthy passage for foods to pass through the stomach and intestines. Moreover, it adds bulk to the stool during loose motions. Foods, like vegetables, wheat bran, and whole grains, can also achieve the same for your body. However, sattu sharbat is a lot easier to make and can be consumed daily without the cooking fuzz.

3. Good for Diabetics

Sattu is a heavenly bliss in disguise for diabetic patients. Many of you who are diabetic would probably be aware that sattu contains a low glycemic index. This results in sattu releasing sugar slowly. Hence, patients with high blood pressure are often advised to drink sattu with small quantities of salt and water. Doing this helps diabetics maintain a blood pressure level with very little effort.

4. Prevents Skin Problems

Sattu flour health benefits embed a wide-ranging benefit for skin care. Sattu is known to improve blood flow, which results in more healthy nutrients and a glowing look. Additionally, it contains minerals, antioxidants, and protein, which make for lustrous and healthy hair. Sattu sharbat also keeps hair moisturized and shiny. Due to the added mineral and iron to hair follicles, sattu sharbat can also help with hair loss and healthy growth of follicles.

5. Aids Growth

Sattu, as a healthy nutrient drink and energy drink, is ideal for children. They require a lot of energy and often due to busy work schedules; you might not be able to meet their high dietary needs. Sattu can be a huge help for you. Sattu contains potassium, fibre, and calcium. It also contains various vitamins and essential minerals. This supply can provide your children a quick intake of energy, which can set them apart in their growing years. Sattu will also help them grow strong teeth and bones, a crucial need during their early age.

6. Strengthens Weak Body

People from suffer from various illnesses during their old age. Some most common include upset stomach and bone weaknesses. Additionally, a growing portion of old people do not have additional help in making their meals, which is a limitation for maintaining a healthy diet. Hence, sattu sharbat can be a great choice for the elderly. Sattu sharbat is helpful in cleaning stomach and its various nutrients will drive stronger bones in a cheap and convenient manner. So, hopefully, elderly would never ask themselves, ‘is drinking sattu good for health?’.

7. Helps Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers

Pregnant women are at a risk of lack of proper nutrition among other things. Sattu is a great way to intake major nutrients and these benefits are passed onto babies as well. Sattu is highly recommended for lactating mothers to replenish nutrients.

Ways You Can Add Sattu to Your Diet

You can get creative with sattu and cook up plenty of exciting and tasty dishes that with clear away within minutes. Here are some great ways in which you can add sattu to your diet.

1. Sattu Sharbat

The simplest way to intake sattu is to whip up a sharbat using it. You can make it sweet or salty based on your preference. Mix some sattu, lemon, jaggery and chilled water, and you have a refreshing summer drink. Use salt in place of jaggery to make the salty version.

2. Sattu Parathas

A classic way of eating sattu is by making some delicious parathas! You simply need to mix sattu flour with some green chillies, chopped onions, ginger, coriander, kalonji, lemon juice, salt and some mustard oil to create the stuffing for the paratha. And then follow the usual procedure of making parathas.

3. Sattu Litti

A popular dish in Bihar, Litti is very easy on the palette. You make this snack with sattu, you need to mix sattu with green chillies, chopped ginger, roasted cumin seeds, chopped garlic, carom seeds, amchoor, coriander, lemon juice, water and mustard oil. This mixture is used to make the stuffing for the litti casting and fried.

4. Sattu Laddoos

If you are a sweet tooth, little ladoos can be simple to make. Mix some sattu, ghee and honey and shape them into small balls, and you’re good to go.

FAQs

1. Can Sattu Be Taken With Milk?

Yes, sattu can be taken with milk, but it is recommended to mix it with water. Sattu is a heavy drink for digestion and ideally consumed best on an empty stomach. Mixing it with milk further adds to its heaviness and can be ‘over-the-top’ for children and elderly people alike.

2. What Is the Best Time to Drink Sattu?

Sattu is not a lean source of protein. So, it makes for a good post-workout and early morning drink during breakfast. Sattu sharbat should be avoided at all costs before bedtime.

3. Can Sattu Be Given to Babies?

Sattu drink is good for people of all ages, including babies and the elderly. As mentioned earlier, sattu is a popular food in India, especially in the northern part. In these parts, sattu porridge is a staple diet for babies. However, do mix it with water.

Sattu has been around for a long time, and it is rightly getting the recognition it deserves recently. If you would like to gain some of these benefits from sattu, try incorporating it into your diet and see if it works well for you.

References/Resources:

1. Chickpea flour (besan); FoodData Central; USDA; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/174288/nutrients

2. Trinidad. TP, Mallillin. AC, Loyola. AS, Sagum. RS, Encabo. RR; The potential health benefits of legumes as a good source of dietary fibre; Br J Nutr.; PubMed; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19825218/; February 2010

3. Pittaway. JK, Robertson. IK, Ball. MJ; Chickpeas may influence fatty acid and fiber intake in an ad libitum diet, leading to small improvements in serum lipid profile and glycemic control; J Am Diet Assoc.; PubMed; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18502235/; June 2008

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