Sooji vs atta; which is healthier? A nutritionist answers (2024)

ByParmita Uniyal, Delhi

Wheat flour or atta is one of the staple food items in India but as the youth look for healthier food choices can this popular ingredient be replaced with sooji or semolina?

Sooji is often referred to as a great weight loss food as it is light on stomach and is a coarser grain as compared to the regular atta we consume every day. It is both used in delicious calorie-laden preparations as well as healthy recipes. From suji halwa, suji laddoo, upma, porridge, chilla, dosa, dhokla, the list of recipes prepared with semolina is endless. Wheat flour or atta is one of the staple food items in India but as the youth look for healthier food choices can this popular ingredient be replaced with suji or semolina? Is suji really healthier than atta as popularly believed?

Sooji vs atta; which is healthier? A nutritionist answers (1)

In the wave of all so-called healthy grains, we may be forgetting the many benefits of wheat flour. Whole wheat flour is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fibre, protein, magnesium, zinc, magnesium among others. While jury is still not out on whether sooji is better than atta, nutritionist Bhuvan Rastogi whose Instagram posts are all about busting food myths recently compared the two popular flours made from wheat. Here's what it is healthier among the two as per the nutrition expert. (Also read: Navratri 2022 special suji halwa recipe: Try this delectable suji halwa recipe)

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"Many people believe that sooji is healthier as compared to atta because it is a coarser grain. However, it actually has lesser fibre and micronutrient content than atta. In fact, sooji is closer to maida than atta!" writes Rastogi.

Rastogi says that sooji which is also known as semolina or rava is a more processed form of wheat and has lesser fibre while whole wheat atta is made by running wheat through a mill.

"Atta has all parts of wheat, including germ (nutrition centre) and bran (fibre). Germ is the most micronutrient dense part of the grain. Bran has the majority of fibre. Therefore, the nutrition of atta is the same as whole wheat. Sooji is made by passing wheat through the mill for coarser grain. Then it is sifted to remove both germs and bran. The end result? Sooji is low in both fibre and micronutrients," says Rastogi.

So, if you want to add more protein, fibre and micronutrients to your diet, you must choose atta over sooji any day.

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News / Lifestyle / Health / Sooji vs atta; which is healthier? A nutritionist answers

Sooji vs atta; which is healthier? A nutritionist answers (2024)

FAQs

Sooji vs atta; which is healthier? A nutritionist answers? ›

Sooji is low in both fibre and micronutrients," says Rastogi. So, if you want to add more protein, fibre and micronutrients to your diet, you must choose atta over sooji any day.

Which is healthier suji or atta? ›

While there's bran and germ present in the atta that makes it high in fiber - suji lacks it due to the rigorous processing it undergoes and results in loss of certain nutrients. Thus, the digestive power of atta is much more in comparison to suji and ultimately benefits your gut health.

Which is better semolina or atta? ›

Semolina has more nutrients than all-purpose flour and it may support weight loss and heart health. Whether you're a cook at a five-star restaurant or a chef in your home kitchen, chances are that you have a list of staple items in your refrigerator or pantry.

Is semolina healthier than wheat flour? ›

Why is semolina flour better than white flour? The coarse texture of semolina, as opposed to the fine texture of white flour, makes it a healthier choice. Semolina is rich in gluten and contains nutrients like fiber, carbohydrates, and protein.

Is suji healthy or unhealthy? ›

The semolina flour is loaded with nutrition such as dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, proteins, sodium, etc. Due to the presence of nutritional content, it has various health benefits such as weight management, good heart health, etc.

What are the side effects of suji? ›

2) What are the disadvantages of eating suji? Suji's side effects may include nausea and vomiting, indigestion, diarrhoea, sneezing, and headaches. Consumption of suji may be detrimental for those who are allergic and intolerant to gluten.

Is suji high in carbs? ›

100 grams of besan contain more than 50% carbohydrates, 10 grams of sugar and dietary fiber and 6 grams of fat. Meanwhile, 100 grams of suji contain 72.83 grams of carbohydrates, 3.9 grams of dietary fiber and 1 gram of fat.

What are the pros and cons of semolina flour? ›

Semolina is a flour made from ground durum wheat. It's rich in protein, fiber, and B vitamins and may support weight loss, heart health, and digestion. Most people can enjoy semolina with no issue, but a small percentage of the population may not tolerate it due to its gluten or wheat content.

Is sooji better than rice? ›

Since, suji is made using durum wheat, it is not highly refined or processed, which makes it healthy. It is rich in healthy carbs, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, vitamin B and other vital nutrients.

Why use semolina instead of flour? ›

Its higher protein content contributes to stronger gluten development, which is necessary to give breads their rise and shape. Beyond just adding to batters and doughs, semolina is also a smart ingredient to keep on hand for dusting and sprinkling, as the coarse texture helps keep doughs from sticking.

What do we call suji in English? ›

Sooji, or suji (pronounced soo-jee), and rawa (pronounced ruh-waa) are Hindi words for granulated wheat, otherwise known as semolina.

Which is better oats or suji? ›

Q: Which is better: oats or suji? A: Oats and Semolina are high in calories. However, in comparison to oats, semolina has a 17 percent higher caloric value. Talking about macronutrient ratios, oats are richer in protein and fat, with low carbs than Semolina.

Is suji good for the liver? ›

She further added, “Permitted Foods for fatty liver are Bread (wheat), rice, maize, jowar, bajra, breakfast cereals, pasta and other refined cereals like maida, suji etc, toned milk and it's products like paneer, curd etc, washed and split pulses and beans, sugar, jaggery, honey, jam, lean meat, egg white, fish or ...

Which is better, suji or atta? ›

Is suji really healthier than atta as popularly believed? "Many people believe that sooji is healthier as compared to atta because it is a coarser grain. However, it actually has lesser fibre and micronutrient content than atta. In fact, sooji is closer to maida than atta!" writes Rastogi.

Does suji spike blood sugar? ›

Suji has a low glycaemic index, meaning it does not cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels when consumed.

Is sooji healthier than besan? ›

As Suji has more dietary fibre which makes digestion easier. Also, Suji has less fat and carbohydrates content than Besan. It is important to have limited fat and carbohydrates content in your diet. However, people with diabetes should consume Besan over Suji as it has less glycemic index than Suji.

Which is better Dalia or sooji? ›

Though sooji contains dietary fibre, the amount of same component in dalia is significantly higher at 1.3 grams for every half cup and it can meet up to 1/5th of daily requirement of iron intake.

Which is better, suji or oats? ›

In terms of macronutrient ratios, oats are higher in fibres, lower in carbs, and higher in fat per calorie than Suji. So oats are less fattening than suji but we should always check on portion control .

Is semolina better than flour for diabetics? ›

Some research has shown that eating foods that are lower on the glycemic index may help people with diabetes. The glycemic index of pasta made from durum wheat semolina is much lower (47) than pasta made from regular wheat (68).

Does suji have Maida? ›

Suji pasta is made from semolina flour, which is a coarsely ground flour made from durum wheat. Maida pasta, on the other hand, is made from refined wheat flour, which is a fine, white flour that has been stripped of its bran and germ.

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