How many calories does one Medu Vada have?

One Medu Vada gives 97 calories. Out of which carbohydrates comprise 36 calories, proteins account for 14 calories and remaining calories come from fat which is 47 calories.  One cup of Medu Vada provides about 5 percent of the total daily calorie requirement of a standard adult diet of 2,000 calories.

See Medu Vada recipe. Most South Indians consider breakfast incomplete without Medu Vada. crispy, tasty and protein-rich urad dal vada to the platter.In fact, when you have breakfast in a South Indian restaurant, even in the remote villages, you will be fascinated to see the waiter reel out the list of breakfast combos, almost all of them featuring vada! Serving them fresh with Sambhar and coconut chutneyhowever is doubly delightful.

Is Medu Vada healthy?

No, this is not healthy. Let's see why.

Let's understand the Ingredients.

What's good.

1. Urad Dal : 1 cup of cooked urad dal gives 69.30% of folic acid of your daily requirement of folate.  The folic acid in urad dal helps your body to produce and maintain new cells, especially red blood cells. Being rich in Phosphorus it works with Calcium to build our bones, high in fibre and good for heart, good for lowering cholesterol and good for diabetes. See here for 10 super benefits of urad dal. 

2. Onions (pyaz, kanda) :  Raw onions are a very valuable source of vitamin C – the immune building vitamin. Along with other phytonutrients from onions, it helps to build WBC (white blood cells) which serves as a line of defence against illness. Yes, it’s a source of many antioxidants, the most important one amongst them being Quercetin. The quercetin which promotes production of HDL (good cholesterol) and lowers total cholesterol in the body. The sulphur in onions act as a blood thinner and prevents blood clotting too. This in turn would lower blood pressure and good for heart,  diabetics. Read the benefits of onions. 

3. Coconut : The fresh coconut has saturated fats but most of it is MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) which promote weight loss. The high fibre content 13.6 gm (45.3% of RDA) along with high lauric acid content of coconut improves cholesterol levels in the body. Improving the action of insulin secretion and lowering the raised blood sugar levels is yet another benefit of coconut for Diabetics. See here for 10 amazing benefits of coconut.

What's the problem?

Deep fried foods : This vada is deep fried. Any food that is deep fried is not suitable for healthy living. Your fat levels increase as deep frying increases oil absorption. Also when you use the same oil again for deep frying then smoking point decreases which leads to the development of blue smoke which is not good for health. It also increases inflammation in the body and shuts down the fat burning process.

Can diabetics, heart patients and over weight individuals have Medu Vada?

No, this recipe is not good for diabetics, heart and weight loss. This vada is deep fried. Any food that is deep fried is not suitable for healthy living. Your fat levels increase as deep frying increases oil absorption. Also when you use the same oil again for deep frying then smoking point decreases which leads to the development of blue smoke which is not good for health.

What are the healthier South Indian snack options?

See the healthiest idli options like dal and vegetable idli recipe, moong sprouts and palak idli recipe, green moong dal and vegetable idli recipe or barley idli which has no rice.

Barley Idli

Serve it with a healthy sambar or coconut chutney. Read which idlis and dosas are healthy?

Sambhar

Can healthy individuals have Medu Vada?

Not healthy. 

How to burn 97 calories that come from Medu Vada?

Walking (6 kmph) = 29 mins

Running (11 kmph) = 10 mins

Cycling (30 kmph) = 13 mins       

Swimming (2 kmph) = 17 mins

Note: These values are approximate and calorie burning differs in each individual.