Do You Know the Benefits are lentils gluten free Walking? Have at-Home Tests for the Flu?
Lentils are legumes that are related to beans, soybeans, peanuts, and chickpeas. They come in various colors, including brown, red, yellow, green, orange, and black. While each type of lentil may have some unique antioxidants, all lentils contain many helpful nutrients. Lentils are enjoyed in various cuisines around the world. Lentils are typically cheap to buy, can be stored for long periods, are easy to cook with, and provide numerous essential nutrients, making it an ideal part of your diet. Health Benefits The nutritional and health benefits of lentils have been studied for years. Lentils provide a variety of health benefits and may play a role in helping people reduce or manage diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers.
The polyphenols in lentils may help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, helping your heart and cardiovascular system. A review of eight trials found that individuals who ate about a cup of legumes every day for ten weeks experienced a decrease in their blood pressure. Too much LDL cholesterol buildup in your body can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Eating more lentils may help people maintain a healthy weight or lose weight. Research suggests that regularly eating lentils may help with the management and prevention of diabetes. Lentils may help improve blood sugar levels and lipid metabolism in both diabetic and healthy individuals. The high fiber, manganese, and flavonoid content may play an important role in why lentils help people with diabetes.
Nutrition Lentils contain various essential nutrients such as dietary fiber, lectins, and polyphenols that help reduce the risk of conditions like heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and some cancers. Eating half a cup of cooked lentils gives you lots of essential nutrients and their high fiber content makes you feel full. However, the fiber in lentils can be hard for your body to break down. Eating too many lentils can cause gas, bloating, and cramping.
How to Prepare Lentils You can find lentils at grocery stores and online. You can buy them dried or in ready-to-eat packaged forms. If you buy them ready-to-eat, read the food label to see if fats, salts, and artificial ingredients have been added. Dried lentils are easy to cook in water or a low-sodium broth. First, you’ll want to sort through the lentils to pick out any debris and then rinse them.