Are lentils good for you?
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What are lentils?
Brooklyn–based registered dietitian
Theyve long been a staple in Indian cuisine (daal, anyone?)
as well as vegan cooking as a plant-based protein source.
Which begs the question: Are lentils good for you?
10 health benefits of lentils
So, what makes lentils such a healthy food choice?
Lentils actually have a LOT to offer.
But thats not all of the perks of lentil health benefits; lets dig a little deeper.
So yeah, theyre kind of a big deal.
Youd have to eata whole can of chickpeasto get that much of the nutrient.
(Pro tip: health experts recommend eating between50 and 75 grams of protein a day.)
Brooklyn–based registered dietitian
Its all about balance, fam.
Fortunately, lentils are packed with the nutrient.
One serving also knocks out 20 percent of your daily fiber needs, English says.
Not getting enough can lead to seriousbirth defects.
The fat they do contain is unsaturated fat, aka the healthy fats our bodies need.
Pasquariello also adds that potassium is essential for regulating muscle contraction, neurological signaling, and fluid balance.
What are the best ways to incorporate lentils into my diet?
Next question: How can you cook lentils without them tasting like a big ol pile of mush?
Let me count the ways:
1.
Look for lentil-based pastas
Brands likeBarilla,Explore Cuisine, andTolerantall use lentils as a gluten-free substitute for pasta.
Then, once they cool off a bit, add em to your salad!
Make a lentil soup or stew
Like soup but wish it filled you up?
However you choose to make lentils, youre bound to get a major nutritional boost.
And thats something all eaters can agree is definitely a major plus.
For dishes like daal, curry, or stew, Pasquariello suggests red lentils.
Plus, it adds an extra step to the cooking process which may deter some people from consuming them.
So feel free to skip.
Try these delicious lentil recipes
There is no shortage of enticing lentil recipes to try.
To start, you cant go wrong with a warmingvegan lentil chili recipe.
Still hungry for more easy lentil recipes?
Can you eat lentils everyday?
Its totally cool to eat lentils daily as long as youre cooking and storing them properly.
But, Pasquariello notes its important to consume a variety of proteins.
So just verify youre adding those sources if you like to eat lentils daily.
Is it bad to eat lentils that are not cooked all the way?
So ensuring you cook lentils thoroughly is very important.
Lectin breaks down with heat, rendering them completely non-toxic and safe to eat.
Are lentils healthier than rice?
This is a tricky question to answer because its like comparing apples and oranges.
Lentils and rice serve different purposes in our diet.
Are lentils or quinoa healthier?
Similarly, lentils and quinoa serve different purposes.
So, it comes down to what nutrients you want to add more of into your diet.
Which color lentils are the healthiest?
So if you find one you like and want to stick with it, thats excellent.
How long can cooked lentils survive in the refrigerator?
How can you tell if cooked lentils have gone bad?
Then do a smell test.
If theres any sort of funky smell, toss them.
A dietitian unpacks the benefits of lentils:
Ganesan, Kumar, and Baojun Xu.
Polyphenol-Rich Lentils and Their Health Promoting Effects.International journal of molecular sciencesvol.
10 Nov. 2017, doi:10.3390/ijms18112390
Chitayat, David et al.
Folic acid supplementation for pregnant women and those planning pregnancy: 2015 update.Journal of clinical pharmacologyvol.
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