Eight Notable Benefits Of Lentils
Have you ever heard about the benefits of lentils?
Lentils are legumes that have found a place in several culinary traditions. This is partly because they are so incredibly nutritious. It is believed that lentils are native to Southeast Asia. However, they are grown in many more places, such as in the Mediterranean area and in America.
Lentils are low in calories. However, they are rich in fiber, amino acids and antioxidants. Overall, they can be a great part of any diet. They provide many benefits to the body.
There are different types of lentils, but each one contains a large amount of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. These nutrients help to keep your body energetic, among other things.
Since there are still a lot of people who don’t know about the benefits of lentils, here are eight great reasons to include these legumes in your diet.
1. Lentil Benefits: They Prevent Constipation
The regular consumption of lentils can provide remarkable benefits for your digestive system.
The fiber contained in lentils promotes good digestion. At the same time, they ensure that your bowels are set in motion. This makes them better able to remove waste products from the body.
In addition, fiber serves as food for the healthy bacteria that live in the colon. And if that wasn’t enough, they can also help prevent constipation.
In the long run, the use of chemical laxatives can be harmful. So try to consume natural foods and juices more often to combat constipation.
2. Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Unlike simple carbohydrates, lentils are great for lowering blood sugar.
The carbohydrates contained in lentils, of which starch is one, are absorbed slowly by the body. They support the process of converting sugar into energy, thus lowering the risk of diabetes.
3. Improve Cardiovascular Health
This legume contains no cholesterol or harmful fats at all. Lentils are therefore great for the heart and arteries.
First of all, they contain a small amount of polyunsaturated fats. Because of this, they can help remove harmful lipids that cause plaque in the arteries.
In addition, the fibers ensure that the intestines absorb less fat and cholesterol. This can prevent problems such as high cholesterol.
4. Help to build muscle mass
It’s no surprise that athletes and fitness enthusiasts love the benefits of lentils. After all, lentils are very helpful to build muscle mass and strengthen the muscles.
They contain a large amount of valuable proteins. These have a positive influence on the recovery of the muscles after they have been damaged by heavy exercise. The slow carbohydrates increase the energy level and improve athletic ability.
5. Lentils Help With Anemia
In addition, this legume also provides the body with a significant amount of iron, magnesium and zinc. These are all essential minerals that help people with anemia to fully regain their health.
These minerals play a role in the formation of red blood cells. Fewer of these are present if there is anemia.
In addition, they support cell function and reduce the symptoms of fatigue.
6. Support Weight Loss
Although there are no miracle cures for weight loss, lentils can be very helpful. They contain very few calories and are also very nutritious. This makes them great for supporting weight loss without going hungry or risking a nutritional deficiency.
In addition, lentils contain almost no fat at all. This allows you to eat them without fear of gaining weight.
Finally, the fiber contained in this legume keeps you full for longer. This is of course very important to curb your appetite.
7. Another one of the benefits of lentils: they protect the nervous system
Eating lentils is a great way to prevent nervous system problems.
The high amount of B vitamins contained in lentils help to improve nerve connections. They protect them against damage caused by free radicals. In addition, they promote the secretion of the happiness hormone.
8. Lentils support skin and hair health
The vitamins, minerals and amino acids that lentils contain are also great for your skin and hair.
When these nutrients are absorbed by the body, cell regeneration improves. This is very important if you want to prevent premature aging.
- In addition, they are useful if you want to ensure that your skin heals faster if you suffer from cuts or wounds. This is because lentils contain a lot of protein and vitamin E.
- The minerals contained in lentils help to strengthen your hair and prevent hair loss.
How often do you eat lentils? Now that you know how healthy they are and how many benefits they provide for your body, it would be wise to include them in your diet at least twice a week.
However, keep in mind that it is not a good idea to consume lentils if you suffer from gout, arthritis, or uric acid problems. They contain a lot of purine.