Are you looking for a tasty and healthy breakfast option that helps in shedding those extra kilos? If yes, then you must consider Poha, a staple breakfast food consumed throughout India. Also, its main ingredient is beaten rice, loaded with lots of nutrients. Poha is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals, and can help you in meeting your weight loss goals.
So if you want to shed some extra pounds without sacrificing taste, read further to know why poha can be the perfect choice for your weight loss journey.
Nutritional Value of Poha
On average, one cup or 100 grams of Poha has the following nutritional values:
- Calories: 110
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 0g
- Iron: 15% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin C: 15% of the DV
- Vitamin A: 0% of the DV
- Calcium: 0% of the DV
Types of Poha
- Vegetable Poha: Including vegetables in your Poha recipe is the best way to improve its effectiveness for weight loss. Add vegetables in Poha to boost your weight loss while satisfying your tastebuds, and inspire a healthy lifestyle.
- Dry Fruit Poha: Dry fruits have numerous health benefits, and when paired with Poha, can become a healthy meal option for weight loss.
- Poha Chaat: You can add corn, coriander leaves, lemon juice, with your favourite spices to enhance the flavour.
- Poha Salad: Poha salad not only helps in weight loss but also satisfies your appetite. Add favourite vegetables like tomato, cucumber, or capsicum to poha to make this midday or evening snack.
Advantages of Poha for Weight Loss
Poha, a beloved meal in many Indian homes, is a tasty breakfast and a nutritious meal, which is mostly taken in the morning. Consuming this meal in the morning can bring numerous health benefits, including weight loss. Check out some of the benefits of taking poha for weight loss.
Low in Calories
If you are struggling to lose extra weight, it’s important to keep a close check on your calorie intake, otherwise it will result in a calorie deficit. Though Poha is low in calories, the way you prepare it increases its total calorie count. To ensure that you are losing weight, include some vegetables, dry fruits, etc., not only to increase their nutritional value but to maintain a low-calorie count.
Additionally, sticking to a low-calorie diet can reduce the chances of age-related and inflammatory disorders. Since poha has fewer calories, it can be a staple in almost all weight loss meal plans.
Healthy Carbohydrates
Another common concern of people losing weight is fatigue or exhaustion, which mainly happens due to low-calorie and carb consumption. To counteract this, eating food that gives you enough energy to do daily tasks is essential. Carbohydrates are a great energy source, and poha is an ideal option loaded with healthy carbohydrates.
Eating poha not just pumps your energy levels up but lowers the urge repetitively.
High in Fibre
Consuming more fibre-rich foods aids the weight loss process and prevents obesity. Poha, due to its high fibre intake, is the perfect addition for someone on a diet. Additionally, fibre improves digestion while minimizing the chances of constipation. Fibre-containing foods take longer to digest, keeping you fuller for longer periods.
Additionally, when fibre absorbs water in the stomach, it increases in volume and suppresses hunger. This helps people stop themselves from looking for unhealthy snacking options and can help to control calorie intake.
Includes Healthy Carbs
Poha is a healthy breakfast option loaded with carbohydrates, also called healthy carbohydrates. These carbs help provide the body with day-long energy and don’t cause a spike in blood sugar levels. A 100-gram serving of poha contains about 75% of your daily required carbohydrate intake while only providing around 200 calories, which makes it the ideal weight-loss option.
Gluten-Free
Poha is naturally a gluten-free food and is ideal for all age groups. It’s the preferred option for those who don’t want to compromise on taste and health.
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Conclusion
By following healthy eating practices and regular exercise, one can successfully move ahead on their path to weight loss. Though Poha provides various micronutrients, including complex carbohydrates, protein, calcium, fiber, and other important nutrients, it cannot make you lose weight independently.
The secret to losing weight is a combination of the right eating choices, adequate exercise, proper rest and a stress-free mind. So, start today and make your weight-loss journey successful and happier.
