Lentils or dal is a favorite ingredient in Indian cuisine. Its rich nutty flavor can be savored in various dishes like Dal tadka, green moong dal, kali dal, dal rasam, Rajasthani panchmel dal, etc. It is not only delicious but also the main source of protein for most vegetarians.
Dried lentils can be easily stored over a year. You can even store cooked lentils in the fridge for a week.
Why protein is essential to humans?
Kwashiorkor and Marasmus are the two common diseases caused due to protein deficiency.
Inadequate protein consumption also causes skin, hair, and nail problem, risk of bone fractures, stunt growth in children, fatty liver and lowers immunity.
Protein repair cells and make new ones
It is crucial in the growth process and development of youngsters and expecting mothers.
It helps the overall development of the body
Role of lentils as a source of protein
Lentils are the major source of protein in our country. It is easily available and highly economical. In India there are various types of lentils, namely chickpeas, black chick peas, whole moong beans, black-eyed peas, chana dal, toor dal, moong dal, whole black lentils, red lentils and kidney beans. Moong dal is found to have less contents of fats and high proteins.
When it comes to exact quantity of consumption of dal, it depends on the intake of other sources of protein and food items in your daily diet. It is best to take the advice of a dietitian.
It is advisable to consume dal during the day time, however, if you wish to have it for dinner see that you keep a time gap of two to three hours before you proceed to sleep.
Benefits of lentils
Apart from being the main source of proteins for vegans, dal has other benefits also as listed below.
It is rich in dietary fiber which helps to lower blood cholesterol
It improves heart health
It protects against diabetes and colon cancer
It is easily digestible
It helps lower blood pressure
It is a good source of antioxidants and essential micronutrients like iron, potassium, and magnesium.
Stay healthy by consulting a dietician at Fitness Foundation. We cater to your needs and provide a complete solution. For the best solution, connect with us on Facebook with below link. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086020028571
Interesting fact about lentils is that, they can be cooked within 30 minutes. There are scores of recipes one can try with them. So why wait for tomorrow, make it part of your regular diet and enjoy advantages of a healthy body.