Mocaf (Modified Cassava Flour) is flour made from enzymatically modified cassava, so it has better nutritional content than ordinary cassava flour. Mocaf flour is made from all parts of the cassava, unlike tapioca flour, which only extracts cassava starch. The process of making mocaf flour begins with peeling the cassava, then washing and chopping, then soaking it with a solution that has been added with enzymes, then drying and mashed until it becomes flour.
Mocaf flour has many benefits, one of which is that it can be used as a substitute for wheat flour. Mocaf flour has similar characteristics to wheat flour, so it can be used as a mixture with wheat flour in making cakes and as a substitute for flour. In general, mocaf flour can be processed into cakes, cookies, pies, noodles, even analog rice.
Judging from its nutritional content, mocaf flour has advantages over other cassava flour, including gluten free, low glycemic index, a source of complex carbohydrates, and rich in fiber and calcium.
Benefits And Advantages of Consume Cassava Flour
1. Gluten Free
Mocaf flour is gluten free, which means that it does not contain gluten protein. Gluten protein is a sticky and elastic protein that is generally contained in several types of cereals, especially wheat, which is the basic ingredient of wheat flour.
Gluten can affect health, including causing anemia, osteoporosis, to autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and cancer in people who cannot consume gluten. Gluten is also not recommended for autistic sufferers, because gluten will form gluteomorphins, causing behavioral disorders, one of which is hyperactivity. Therefore, mocaf flour can be a solution for people who cannot consume gluten.
2. Low glycemic index
Apart from gluten free, mocaf flour also has a low glycemic index. The glycemic index is a number used as an indicator of the speed at which food is consumed which can affect blood sugar levels in the body. If a food contains a high glycemic index, the sugar level in the body will increase over a long period of time. This can cause disease, one of which is diabetes. Therefore, mocaf flour has good benefits because its glycemic index is lower than wheat flour, so it can be used as a substitute for wheat flour.
3. Contains complex carbohydrates
Mocaf or Cassava flour also contains complex carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are one of the macro components that the body needs. When someone consumes simple carbohydrates, the body will digest it quickly, making it easy to feel hungry. Complex carbohydrates are digested longer in the body, thus providing a longer feeling of fullness. Therefore, mocaf flour can be an alternative for people who are on a diet because its complex carbohydrate content can delay hunger, so they don’t consume excessive carbohydrates.
4. Rich in fiber and calcium
Compared to other cassava flour, mocaf flour contains high fiber and calcium. Calcium is a mineral that the body needs, especially for healthy bones and teeth. This makes mocaf flour suitable for people with osteoporosis and people who lack calcium. Fiber is a plant content that cannot be absorbed by the body, and can bind water and improve digestion. In addition, fiber can also lower cholesterol levels in the blood and control blood sugar levels. Therefore, mocaf flour can be used as a good source of fiber for the body.