I Love Those Lentils!
Coming from an Indian heritage, lentils have been an important part of my daily meals all my life. I absolutely love them and really wanted to share their beneficial properties with all of you readers and foodies!
Around the world, people enjoy the health benefits of lentils, part of a group of proteins known as pulses, which also includes beans, peas, chickpeas. Naturally gluten-free, lentils are rich in dietary fiber, protein, calcium, potassium, zinc, and iron. They help support lower cholesterol levels and are a great addition to the diet especially for people diagnosed with blood glucose/ blood sugar disorders.
Prior to the use of pharmaceutical medicines, lentils were used to deal with diabetic conditions. When included with a meal, the high fiber content helps prevent blood glucose from rising rapidly after eating. Although calorie dense (230 cal/ one cup serving), lentils are low in fat and very filling – you won’t be hungry after a lentil meal! I can vouch for that one from extended personal experience!
You can find lentils in the bulk bin aisle or in prepackaged containers.
A few tips on purchasing and cooking:
When purchasing in bulk, try to buy organic and make sure there is no moisture in the bin or in the packaging. Look for whole, not cracked lentils. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark and dry place. They will keep up to a year. When buying canned lentils, watch for added salt or other preservatives. though I don’t recommend canned food AT ALL, just for your information, unlike other canned veggies, lentils do not lose much of their nutritional potency.
Lentils are easy to prepare (I do like to pre-soak them but if in a hurry, can cook without presoaking unlike other dry beans). Wash and strain lentils under cool water before cooking. You can boil lentils (I like to use my pressure cooker as a matter of habit, but you can use an Instant Pot as well if you have one) and store in the fridge for later use in casseroles, soups, rice or pasta dishes, salads, spreads/hummus, or soups. Cooked lentils stay fresh in the fridge in a covered container for about three days.
Write in the comments if you liked these tips and how you use lentils and share some of your favorite recipes if you can so all of us can benefit.
I look forward to hearing from you!
References:
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Future of Food: Pulses & Nutrition. Accessed on 6 Sep 2016: http://pulses.org/future-of-food/pulses-nutrition
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Video: NutritionFact.org. “Diabetics Should Take Their Pulses” http://nutritionfacts.org/video/diabetics-should-take-their-pulses/
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Helmstadter, A. “Antidiabetic drugs used in Europe prior to the discovery of insulin.” Pharmazie (2007) 62(9):717 – 720. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17944329
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MedicalNewsToday.com. Accessed 6 Sep 2016: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/297638.php
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World’s Healthiest Foods: Lentils. Accessed 6 Sep 2016: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=52
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Singhal, P., Kaushik, G., Mathur,P. “Antidiabetic potential of commonly consumed legumes: A review.” Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr (2014) 54(5):655 – 672. Accessed 6 Sep 2016: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24261538
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Thompson, S.V., Winham, D.M., Hutchins, A.M. “Bean and rice meals reduce postprandial glycemic response in adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-over study.” Nutr J (2012) 11:23. Accessed 6 Sep 2016: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22494488
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MindBodyGreen.com. “7 Health Benefits of Lentils” Accessed 6 Sep 2016: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5488/7-Health-Benefits-of-Lentils.html
Image attribution: rtsubin/bigstockphoto.com
The information offered by this blog is presented for educational purposes. Nothing contained within should be construed as nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. This information should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider. Always consult with your physician or other qualified health care provider before embarking on a new treatment, diet or fitness program. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of any information contained within this blog. © Praana Integrative Medicine & Holistic Health Center, LLC. All rights reserved
Dr. Manisha Ghei February 19th, 2017
Posted In: Blog Post, Food, Integrative Medicine, Recipes
Tags: blood sugar, cholesterol, Diabetes Mellitus, Fiber, functional medicine, healthy heart, heart health, heart health month, heart healthy foods, heart healthy recipe, lentils, mindful eating, nutrition, recipe