Roti is an Indian bread that is often misrepresented by Westerners. Almost all Western-centric websites distort roti to mean a “flat bread.” Truth be told, apart from a few similar ingredients, Roti is much different.
Roti Origins
It was found by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research that people have been making flat bread for over 6000 years. Today, about 80 to 85% of total wheat that’s produced in India is to be into chapatti/roti.
Parantha/Roti
There is a misconception about parantha/roti and how it’s more fattening compared to traditional bread. But in reality, roti is quite healthy. It’s made of various grains that are mixed with ingredients such as soy, bajra, ragi, and jowar. As an added benefit, there is no sugar added, and it has a lower glycemic index meaning your blood sugar won’t spike.
To make a parantha/roti more exciting, vegetables and spices are also added into the mix and then applied with a little butter. This is different from bread that uses refined cooking oil.
Roti is a rich source of Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, and B9. As well as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, soluble fiber and more. Roti is also roasted or baked and only contains about 70 calories.
What is Wheat Bread?
Brown bread is often just white bread mixed with a coloring agent to make it brown. There are different kinds of bread, ranging from whole wheat, bran, multi-grain, ragi, and the like. All of these options are popularly made with refined flour and yeast that can dehydrate the body.
Roti vs Traditional Bread
When it comes to preservation, roti doesn’t last long as there are no preservatives added. Bread, on the other hand, can be kept for weeks or even months due to added preservatives.
In terms of calories, roti can contain a bit more calories than bread, but this depends on the size and thickness of the roti itself. A typical Roti will contain 70 calories. A single slice of bread, can contain approximately 60 calories, but the calorie count is also dependent on size and cut.
People often say that whole wheat breads are a viable option when compared to roti. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
First of all, as stated earlier, roit is made of natural, locally-sourced ingredients without preservatives. Compared to bread, which uses refined oils and wheat flour and is also bombarded with preservatives to extend its shelf-life.
Roti and Its Health Benefits
The longest living human group in the earth are the Hunza tribe, which is located in the mountainous region in North Pakistan. Extensive research has been done on the tribe, and it is found out that they consume Roti on a near daily basis. Where-as most Americans are told to stay away from bread due to high blood pressure and diabetes.
