Health
We are often bothered of the number of calories present in a packet of chips or a bar of chocolate. But how many of you would have ever thought that even your favourite home-cooked dal can fill you with calories? Pulses or dal are high in protein and carbohydrates which contribute to the calorie count. Besides, most additives like oil, ghee and butter can really pack the pulses with calories. Let us have a look at the calorie count of some of your favourite preparations of dal. You may also want to know the calorie count of common South Indian dishes.
Updated : Feb 19, 2015, 11:00 AM IST
We are often bothered of the number of calories present in a packet of chips or a bar of chocolate. But how many of you would have ever thought that even your favourite home-cooked dal can fill you with calories? Pulses or dal are high in protein and carbohydrates which contribute to the calorie count. Besides, most additives like oil, ghee and butter can really pack the pulses with calories. Let us have a look at the calorie count of some of your favourite preparations of dal. You may also want to know the calorie count of common South Indian dishes.
These calories are calculated using HealthifyMe Calorie Counter, the world’s first Indian nutrition tracker.
We are blessed with a variety of dals and pulses, which not only add a distinct taste to our diets but also offer a number of health benefits. The popular toor dal is not only light but also contains folic acid that helps to prevent anaemia. Moong dal is rich in iron and potassium.Iron helps maintain hemoglobin levels and potassium helps reduce blood pressure, a boon for hypertensive people. Urad dal, which is commonly used by South Indians to make dosas and idlis, is a good source of calcium, which is important for elderly people for maintaining bone health.
However, if you are on a weight loss diet, make sure you do not add too much of butter or ghee to your dal as these can pack your dal with calories. Also, do not overcook your pulses as it can deplete them of some nutrients. Adding spices like cinnamon, pepper, turmeric and coriander to your dal can make it rich in antioxidants. You can try this healthy lauki and methi moong dal recipe.
Originally published on www.thehealthsite.com