A bowl of dalia helps in weight loss +4 other reasons to eat it every day

Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti

Popularly known as broken wheat, dalia is a healthy alternative to whole wheat as it contains the outer bran, which makes it an excellent source of dietary fibre. Wondering how fibre helps you stay healthy? Here are 10 reasons for eating fibre rich food. A powerful breakfast option,unlike other cereals, dalia doesn’t take a long time to cook. You can prepare many healthy recipes like dalia vegetable upma, dalia kheer or khichdi with this cereal. Here are a few healthy reasons to include dalia in your diet.

#1 Aids in weight loss
The high fibre content in dalia gives you a feeling of fullness and thus, prevents you from binging. Eating a bowl of doodh dalia in the morning provides you 218 calories, which is less than other Indian breakfast options. It makes you feel full and also provides you with the energy required for the rest of the day. Dalia is low in fats that not only aids in weight management but also prevents obesity. So replacing wheat rotis or rice with dalia is not a bad idea to boost yourweight loss efforts. Here are few tips to help you lose weight at home.

#2 Good for diabetics
If you are a diabetic, dalia is a must include food in your diet. It has a low glycemic index and contains complex carbohydrates, which ensure a slow and steady release of glucose into blood thereby preventing your blood sugar levels from spiking. With high fibre content and fewer calories, eating a bowl of dalia when you are hungry helps you to manage blood sugar. A bowl of dalia salad at night or dalia upma in the evening keeps hunger pangs, even night cravings, at bay.

#3 Prevents constipation
A bowl of dalia contains 2.5 gm of fibre that not only helps in the digestion but also prevents constipation. It works by absorbing water from the digestive water and adding bulk to stools. It also improves the consistency of stools, which helps relieve constipation.

#4 Nutritious weaning food
Your baby’s transition from breast milk to semi-solid food requires careful planning. A weaning food should be filling as well as easy on the stomach and dalia fits the bill perfectly. A small bowl of dalia kheer made with milk and jaggery can fill a 7-month old’s stomach and also aid in digestion. Here are eight more healthy weaning foodsyou can try today.

#5 Helps you build muscles
Did you know dalia is a rich source of proteins? If gaining muscle weight or building muscles top your list, ensure to include dalia in your diet plan. It also contains various essential vitamins and menials that can replenish the lost nutrients from the body if had after a workout. Eat a bowl of dalia porridge or dalia upma with lentils to up your protein intake. You may also like to read 7 yoga poses to tone your body at home.
As dalia is simple to make, easy-to-digest and low in fat, even pregnant women and older people can eat it. However, make sure you don’t eat more than two bowls of cooked dalia (which accounts to 50 gm of uncooked) in a day.

With inputs from Dr Swati Dave,
Dietician Nutritionist, Ahmedabad.