Dosa is a south Indian cuisine that is known all around the globe for its health and nutritional benefits. In this article, we will discuss dosa calories and the benefits of dosa in your weight loss journey.
How Many Calories Does One Dosa Have?
Rice, fenugreek oil, and lentils are the main ingredients used in dosa preparation with a filling of vegetables. How many calories are in dosa? Considering moderate use of these ingredients, one dosa calories may range between 165 to 170 calories. Of these, 116 calories come from carbohydrates, proteins contribute to 16 calories, and the remaining 33 calories come from fats.
1 dosa calories with nutritional facts [Approximate Values]
How Many Calories Are in 4 Plain Dosa?
Eating one plain dosa gives approximately 165 calories of energy. Two dosa calories are 330, and four plain dosa gives you 660 calories of your total energy requirements.
Is Dosa Good for Weight Loss?
Depending on the preparation, dosa may or may not be good for weight loss. Plain dosa with no stuffing tastes good and is healthy for people aiming to lose weight. Oats dosa and dosa made with grains are low on calories and high on health parameters. Such preparations are beneficial for your weight loss.
Is dosa healthy? The following characteristics of traditional dosa (made with urad dal, methi seeds, and ghee) make it a healthy option for those looking for weight loss:
1. Digested Easily
Dosa is made with natural ingredients and served hot and fresh. It is easy to digest and does not make you feel bloated.
2. Rich Source of Folic Acid
1 dosa calories provide your body with nearly 70 percent of your daily folic acid requirement. As per a study, folic acid is helpful in anaemia prevention in women.
3. Strengthen Your Bones
Urad dal dosa provides essential minerals such as phosphorus that combines with calcium to strengthen your bones.
4. Regulates Blood Sugar Level
Traditional Dosa has fenugreek seeds as an ingredient. As per a study, fenugreek seeds helps regulate your blood sugar and benefit patient with type-2 diabetes.
5. Ghee Lowers the Glycemic Index
Ghee is not as bad as you think it to be. Pure desi ghee is rich in vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K) and antioxidants. It also lowers the glycemic index of dosa that prevents a quick rise in blood sugar levels, hence helpful against diabetes.
Is Dosa Good for Weight Loss at Night?
Is dosa healthy to eat at night? Eating dosa at night is good only when you have prepared it in a traditional style with less oil and more stuffing of leafy green vegetables. One plain dosa provides you with only 165 calories of the 2000 calories an average weight adult requires in a day. So eating one plain dosa should not worry you as it will not affect your weight loss goals.
Plain dosa with green vegetable stuffing makes you feel full and prevents the midnight cravings. It also nourishes your body with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Hence, one plain dosa with a lot of green vegetable stuffing is good to eat at night for weight loss. However, dosa made with low-quality oil and potato stuffing will not be a healthy option and may severely affect your weight loss targets.
Is Dosa Better Than Idli?
Are you confused about what to eat for breakfast, idli or dosa? Here is a comparison between dosa and idli:
- Dosa batter has less urad dal compared to an idli batter.
- One idli will provide 33 calories. Eating four idlis will give 132 calories which are still less than a plain dosa.
- Rice content in dosa batter is more, affecting your weight loss targets more than idlis.
- Dosa batter has fenugreek seeds and stuffing of green vegetables that make it richer in nutrition and more in healthy calories.
- Dosa batter has more water content that hydrates your body and keeps you full without the feeling of bloating.
- Dosa is easy and a quick recipe to make. It saves your time and prevents morning cravings.
So, which is better, dosa or idli? The richness of urad dal, fenugreek seeds, water, and green vegetables and the added advantage of a quick and easy recipe makes dosa a better option for your morning breakfast.
Conclusion
Traditional plain dosa with urad dal and fenugreek seeds is rich in minerals, folic acid, and vitamins. It is an excellent option for breakfast or dinner. Plain dosa is a healthy food partner in your weight loss journey and can be a part of your diet without any guilt.
References
- Nazila Kassaian, Leila Azadbakht,, Jaunrary 2013; Effect of Fenugreek Seeds on Blood Glucose and Lipid Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients - https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/abs/10.1024/0300-9831.79.1.34
- James A Greenberg, Stacey J Bell, June 2011; Folic Acid Supplementation and Pregnancy: More Than Just Neural Tube Defect Prevention - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3218540/
