Is Poha Good for Weight Loss?

Nowadays, obesity is becoming a major concern for a lot of individuals these days. Everyone is looking for healthier food options that can also be cooked quickly. 

If you want to add a healthy star ingredient into your daily life? Then, Poha can be a good option for you. 

Also read: Is Muenster cheese good for weight loss?

Now, the question arises, Is poha good for weight loss? My answer is yes, Poha is beneficial for weight loss. It has many other benefits, such as it improves digestion, being helpful for diabetic patients, being helpful in acidity, etc. 

Because, Poha is rich in dietary fiber, which means it will keep you full for longer, preventing you from eating unhealthy snacks to satisfy your hunger pangs. Want to know more about Poha? Let’s dive in.

Poha Nutritional Value

alsoAgh Poha is made from rice, still its nutritional value differs slightly from rice. The nutritional value is also affected by the method used to cook it and what other ingredients are added to it.

Also read: How to Use Oats for Weight Loss? 

Also read: How to Eat Chia Seeds For Weight Loss?

Let’s take a look at the Nutritional value of poha in its raw form. These values are for 100g of poha.

Energy	180kCal
Fibre	2.5mg
Carbohydrates	25g
Fat	7.9g

Vitamins and Minerals

Iron	2.6mg
Potassium	5mg
Magnesium	32.9g
Calcium	13.7mg
Vitamin A	67.6mcg
Vitamin B	1.4mg
Vitamin C	1.9mg
Proteins	2.34mg
Phosphorus	79.7mg

Is Poha Good for Weight Loss?

Poha is one of the natural sources of dietary fiber, which makes it a good source for weight loss. 

According to the research, dietary fiber helps in appetite regulation, increases metabolism, and also helps in lowering the risk of chronic disease. Therefore, poha is good for weight loss and a good ingredient to add to your diet.

Also read: How Does Cucumber Help in Weight Loss?

What makes Poha good for weight loss? Well, first things first, Poha is a category of low-calorie dishes. It also contains protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. 

Moreover, adding extra ingredients like onion, peanuts, and others increases its nutritional value. Some experts believe that it helps in regulating glucose and insulin levels.  

Overall, Poha is a great option to lose some pounds and incorporate a healthy meal into your life. Poha contains fat, fiber, and carbohydrates, so just a cup of this delicious dish can keep you fuller for longer.

Also read: Does Ginger Help With Weight Loss? 

If you are still not satisfied that Poha might be good for you, don’t worry because this article will give you many more reasons to incorporate Poha into your healthy diet. Just keep on reading.

Other Benefits of Poha

Poha has a lot of benefits. It contains a lot of fiber which helps prevent type 2 diabetes; it is good for pregnant women, easier to digest, and promotes good gut health and many more things. Below are some of the amazing benefits of poha.

Is Poha Good for Diabetes?

Because poha is made from rice, people often think it has a low glycemic index value, which could cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels. Consequently, it is widely believed that poha is not good for diabetic patients. 

However, I would like to clear a misconception here – although poha is made from rice, it contains the bran of the rice. 

When we wash the rice before cooking, we remove essential nutrients like fiber, iron, vitamins, and complex carbs. But this is not the case with poha, also known as flattened rice; it retains all these nutrients and does not cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. 

Nonetheless, we don’t recommend eating poha daily to type 2 diabetic patients. You can include poha in your diet once in 15 days or once a month if your sugar levels are under control.

Does Poha cause Acidity?

The answer is yes, but there are a few circumstances in which poha can cause acidity. Such as: Eating raw Poha, consuming poha with a highly acidic substance such as coffee or tea can lead to acidity in people with IBS, poha, which is not properly cooked, or poha with too many chilies. All these can make your stomach uncomfortable and can cause acidity.

Does Poha cause Bloating?

Poha contains a lot of dietary fiber and is very easily digestible. So, it does not induce bloating. However, eating raw poha can cause bloating. 

Does Poha cause Constipation?

Fiber is good for digestion and lowering the risk of constipation. Poha is high in fiber which means poha does not cause constipation.

Is Poha Good during Pregnancy?

Poha is very much advisable for pregnant women. Women during pregnancy are exposed to gestational anemia, and almost 50% of pregnant women suffer from it. Poha is required to pass through numerous iron rollers during production, giving it a high iron concentration. To ensure better iron absorption from the Poha that you consume, add a few drops of freshly cut lemon juice and some groundnuts.

Is Poha Good for Cholesterol?

Poha contains a lot of probiotics and fiber low in saturated and trans fats, iron, and Complex vitamins like Vitamin B. 

Probiotics and good fats are amazing for keeping the body healthy. The probiotics in poha help strengthen and increase the good bacteria in our gut. These bacteria help fight and eliminate toxins from the gut and eliminate stubborn fat and cholesterol in our body. 

Is Poha Good for the Thyroid?

Poha contains fiber, vitamins, and good fats. It makes for a nutritious meal that contributes to a balanced diet because of its low calorie and cholesterol content. Including poha recipes high in selenium and fiber will improve your thyroid function.

Is Poha Good for Immunity?

A good supply of dietary fiber, copper, protein, vitamin D, lutein, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, pantothenic acid, vitamin C, manganese, and vitamin E may be found in poha. These vitamins and minerals are crucial for increasing immunity. It is also a beneficial probiotic option.

Is Poha Good for Digestion?

A comparatively easy dish to make, poha is also very light but fulfilling at the same time. Poha has a lot of fiber content which helps digestion and metabolism. As a result, it is fairly easy to digest and does not induce bloating. If you have a weak stomach and often suffer from digestive problems, then poha can be a great help for you. Either consume it as a meal or a snack; it’s completely your choice. 

Is Poha Good for Kidney Patients?

Poha contains low potassium, sodium, and phosphorous levels, making it an ideal food for people suffering from chronic kidney diseases. The fiber and carbohydrates contained in poha make it even more of an ideal meal. However, you should consult your doctor before including something new in your diet. 

Is Poha Good for PCOS?

Yes, Poha is a healthy breakfast option for women suffering from PCOS. Women suffering from PCOS are insulin resistant, which means they should follow a diet rich in fiber and low in carbs. They can consume a plain cooked poha or make it healthier by adding vegetables to boost the fiber content.

What is the Best Time to Eat Poha?

There is no such thing as the best time to eat Poha. Poha is a perfect meal for any time of the day. However, people often recommend having poha for breakfast. 

The sole reason behind this is that poha is very filling, and when you have it for breakfast, it will keep you away from your random cravings. Thus, preventing you from consuming unhealthy snacks between your meals. 

Poha also contains carbohydrate, which provides the energy you need to go through the day. And, of course, it’s great for breakfast because it’s easy and quick to prepare, which means you can make it even during your rushed morning.

Should we need to consume Poha Every Day?

Most people ask me a question, can we consume poha every day. My answer is No; you should not consume Poha every day because it is not a superfood; it might lead to nutritional issues because no single food gives you the complete nutrients your body need. However, you can swap it for another healthier option if you don’t want to eat poha daily but are on a diet. 

Eating Poha can vary from person to person. If you want to lose weight, following a consistent diet is very much needed. 

If you are consuming poha due to a certain ailment or disease and your doctor or nutritionist has recommended you to consume Poha every day, in that case, you shouldn’t skip it.

How to Make Poha for Weight Loss?

Poha can be eaten in a variety of ways. Try some of these to bring some variation in the way you consume Poha.

Poha Chat

Nobody will like the taste of plain poha, even if I don’t like it; flavor it by making a chat out of it; for making Poha chat, take a cooked bowl of poha and add half a cup of corn and vegetables as you like. Season them with salt and pepper, and add a few drops of lemon for that tangy chat taste. Your healthy and mouth-watering Poha chat is ready in no time. 

OR Want to make your salads flavourful and give them a new look? Add some poha to them. For this, you need half a cup of raw vegetables like tomato, cucumber, capsicum, and onion (you can take other vegetables too, as per your liking.) Toss a cup of poha, and you know the drill season with salt and pepper and a few drops of lemon.

Vegetable Poha

Tired of plain old Poha recipes. Add veggies to it and turn it into a vegetable poha. It will not only enhance the taste but will also increase its benefits. Cook some vegetables of your liking along with poha, sprinkle a dash of salt and pepper, and you’re good to go.

Dry-Fruit Poha

Did your dietician recommend you have dry fruits as a snack, and would you like to avoid eating them alone? Take one-fourth of a cup of roasted Poha and throw in some roasted dry fruits as desired. Your amazing dry fruit poha is ready.

Conclusion

Considering all the benefits Poha provides, it would be ideal for anyone. Nutritionists advise including this classic food in your diet as a snack or breakfast. 

Poha has long been a staple in people’s diets. Poha or any other food, however, can’t trigger you to lose weight on its own. Therefore, although the answer to “Is poha good for weight loss?” is yes, can it lead to weight loss alone is a complete no. 

For weight loss, you don’t only need to eat healthily but also follow a healthy lifestyle, like incorporating exercise in your routine or drinking warm water in the morning empty stomach. Several factors can influence weight loss. So it would be best if you saw first what works for you and what doesn’t.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)