Glucose biscuit health benefits and nutrition facts

Updated: May 10, 2022 | 15:51 IST
glucose biscuit
In India, tea time is incomplete without glucose biscuits. From Parle G to Tiger, there are many brands competing in the glucose biscuit space, trying to cater to India's insatiable hunger for these inexpensive treats. They are eaten for breakfast and tea time, dunked in hot tea. Here are some healthy and not-so-healthy facts about glucose biscuits.

What is glucose biscuit?

Glucose biscuits are commercially prepared products made from refined flour, sugar, leavening agents, milk powder, vanilla essence, emulsifiers and preservatives. In India, glucose biscuits are synonymous with Parle G, which was first introduced in 1939. Today, there are many other brands competing in the same space, while Parle G remains unbeatable.

Glucose biscuits are a popular tea-time snack, consumed in the morning and evening with a cup of hot tea. It's a popular practice to dunk the crisp biscuits in the hot beverage till they go soggy. The biscuit absorbs the flavours of the tea, enhancing the taste and texture even further.

The humble biscuit is also being popularised by the Indian diaspora in the United States and other countries, creating global interest in this uniquely Indian snack.

Glucose biscuit nutrition

100 grams of glucose biscuit contains the following nutrients:

Nutrients
 Measure (Daily Value)
Calories
 437.5
Total fat
 12.5 gm (19%)
Saturated fat
 6.3 gm (31%)
Trans fat
 0 gm
Cholesterol
 0 mg
Sodium
 468.8 mg (20%)
Total carbohydrates
 75 gm (25%)
Sugars
 25 gm
Proteins
 6.3 gm
Vitamin A
 0%
Vitamin C
 0%
Iron
 6.3%

Health benefits of glucose biscuits

While glucose biscuits have become an integral part of the Indian diet, often replacing breakfast and tea-time snacks, they are not exactly good for health.

For starters, it is made of refined flour, which is bereft of nutrients and fibre. It also contains sugar, artificial flavours, artificial colours, palm oil and chemical preservatives. They are calorically dense and can contribute to weight gain if eaten in excess.

Refined flour-based foods are also bad for the digestive system and can worsen or cause constipation. Excessive consumption of glucose biscuits can also cause vision and nervous health problems, inflammation, cholesterol problems, diabetes and cardiovascular issues.

Processed foods like glucose biscuits also contain preservatives like butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene

The only health benefits of glucose biscuits are as follows:

  • Provides instant energy
  • Can tackle low blood sugar

Provides instant energy: The primary ingredient in glucose biscuit is sugar, one of the body's most preferred sources of fuel. It gives instant energy, especially if you don't have time for a sit-down meal in the morning.

Can tackle low blood sugar: Those who face dips in blood sugar levels can keep glucose biscuits in their bags for emergencies. Eating these biscuits will cause an immediate spike in blood sugar levels.

References:
1. Nutritionix
2. Goubgou, M., Songré-Ouattara, L. T., Bationo, F., Lingani-Sawadogo, H., Traoré, Y., & Savadogo, A. (2021). Biscuits: a systematic review and meta-analysis of improving the nutritional quality and health benefits. Food Production, Processing and Nutrition, 3(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43014-021-00071-z

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