Why Do Fitness Freaks Like Malaika Arora And Shilpa Shetty Avoid White Bread ? Expert Warns Of Health Risks

Health expert Prashant Desai warns that one slice of white bread can spike blood sugar as much as six teaspoons of sugar. He explains why you should avoid it and suggests healthier alternatives.

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Surya Singh
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White Bread Health Risks and Why Malaika Arora and Shilpa Shetty Avoid it

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Ever wondered why celebrities like Malaika Arora and Shilpa Shetty skip white bread? Turns out it’s not just a fitness fad. Health expert Prashant Desai from Stanford School of Medicine recently shared a viral Instagram video, warning people about the real dangers of eating white bread. His blunt message: a single slice is worse than a can of Coke.

Desai especially cautions against feeding white bread to kids (but the warning applies to everyone). His advice is to simply cut white bread out of your diet and choose healthier alternatives with more fibre and less sugar impact.

White Bread Or Liquid Sugar?

Desai breaks it down using the Glycemic Index (GI), a scale that shows how fast food spikes blood sugar. White bread (made from refined maida) has a GI close to 100, almost like eating pure glucose. For comparison, regular sugar has a GI of 65.

In India, where bread quality and ingredients vary, the GI of white bread could be even higher. That means eating white bread sends your blood sugar levels soaring, almost instantly.

One Slice Of White Bread Equals Six Teaspoons Of Sugar

Desai explains that one slice of white bread weighs around 30 grams and has about 15 grams of net carbs. Multiply that with its high GI, and the effect on your blood sugar is the same as eating 23 grams of sugar. That’s almost 50% of your daily recommended sugar intake in one slice.

So if you’re handing your child or (eating yourself) a white bread sandwich, it’s like giving them spoonfuls of sugar, literally. This is why fitness-conscious celebrities completely avoid it.

Brown Bread Isn’t Always Better

Desai doesn’t spare brown bread either. He says many store-bought brown breads are just white bread with added colouring. They offer little extra nutrition and can be just as harmful.

Instead, he recommends whole wheat bread, multigrain bread, and high-quality sourdough bread. These options offer more fibre and are processed less, making them better choices for long-term health.

Desai ends the video with a strong warning: “When you eat bread, remember - one slice is equivalent to six tablespoons of sugar.”

If Malaika Arora and Shilpa Shetty’s clean eating habits weren’t enough to make you switch, this science-backed breakdown might just do the trick.

Malaika Arora Shilpa Shetty