For Malcolm Fernandes, a city-based supply chain professional and proud Goan, reducing his bread consumption has been the toughest experience. “Being a typical Goan Catholic, I have grown up eating pao and bread and they are my absolute favourites. They are the best side to enjoy fish and chicken curries with,” says the 32-year-old Bandra local. When he began experiencing uneasiness after lunch and dinner due to a digestive issue, Fernandes was asked to stop eating bread, rice and wheat and to replace them with jowar, bajra and nachni late last year.

A lot of people consume bread in different forms occasionally as well as daily and while it agrees with some, it doesn’t agree with others for a variety of reasons. These range from the likes of celiac disease and polycystic ovary syndrome to beliefs surrounding bread that the gluten contained in it causes bloating and adverse effects.