Healthy living is more than just a lifestyle but essential for the living. One of the important factors in healthy living is healthy eating lifestyle. Unfortunately, when it comes to healthy eating, the first thing that comes to mind is boring vegetables, tasteless foods, limited options of foods and so on. The fact is healthy eating means you could eat everything you like but with the right and balance portion. India has its own secret when it comes to healthy food and one of them is black gram dal.
What Is Black Gram Dal?
Each country may has its own signature dish and India is one of the countries which are depending on nature when it comes to its traditional cuisines and one of them is black gram dal. Some of you must be wondering what black gram dal is. Black gram dal is one of the types of beans or pulses commonly found in India because this country is not only the origin but also one of the places where black gram dal is cultivated commercially. Scientifically, black gram dal is well known as Vigna mungo, while in other countries, black gram dal is also well known as black lentils, mungo beans or matpe beans. Right now, not only in India, black gram dal is also cultivated in some tropical regions such as Africa, the Mauritius, Caribbean and Fiji.
Nutritional Values of Black Gram Dal
The question that is frequently asked about black gram dal is about the nutrient contents. It is actually very essential question if you want to add this pulses to your daily diet especially those who are currently in the process of achieving healthy living goal. Just like any other beans or pulses, black gram dal is also packed with plant-based protein which is a great source of protein for those who are currently vegetarians and avoid animal-based protein. Black gram dal is also packed with fibers, minerals and vitamins, antioxidants compounds and many more. To find out more information about black gram dal the list of health benefits of black gram dal below will tell you more.
- Excellent Source of Fiber
One of the amazing health benefits of black gram dal is this pulses are packed with fiber. You could get all the health benefits of fiber just by adding black gram dal to your daily diet.
- Great for Digestion
It is a common knowledge that all kinds of foods that are rich of fiber is good for digestion and just like the health benefits of other types of beans and pulses, black gram dal is also excellent for digestion.
- Reduces the Symptoms of Diarrhea
One of the ways of how to prevent diarrhea is by consuming black gram dal. The soluble fiber will help slowing down the digestion caused by bacteria infection that leads to diarrhea.
- May Help with the Cramping during PMS
Most women will find it very helpful if they could find a natural solution to reduce the cramping during PMS. Eating a warm soup made of black gram dal is not only able to reduce the pain but also excellent nutrients during PMS.
- Optimizes the Nutrients Absorption
One more benefit of fiber is making sure your digestive system could work properly by eliminating all the unnecessary properties. Once the digestive system is working optimally the nutrient absorption is also optimized.
- Excellent Energy Booster
Just like most of beans and pulses, black gram dal contains healthy amount of carbohydrate that make it a great energy booster.
- Optimizes the Production of Red Blood Cells
The minerals such as potassium and iron found in black gram dal are the ones that responsible to the optimization of red blood cells’ production. RBCs are very essential in human metabolism to distribute oxygen and nutrients to the whole body cells.
- Promotes Healthy Bones
One of the minerals found in black gram dal is calcium. It is a common knowledge that the health benefits of calcium are to promote healthy bones and maintain its density.
- Prevent Diabetes
Black gram dal is one of the healthy diets recommended for those who have been diagnosed with certain types of diabetes due to its ability to control the blood sugar level without giving the side effects.
- Natural Skin Care
The antioxidants content found in black gram dal is excellent anti-aging solution. That is why it is a perfect option for natural skin care. You could either consume it or use it externally as body scrub or face mask.
- Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is one of the roots of several chronic diseases. Unfortunately, a lot of people haven’t realized about this fact. The anti-inflammatory properties found in black gram dal could help reduces inflammation significantly and naturally.
- Boosting Metabolism
Some studies have found out that the combination of minerals and vitamins found in black gram dal could be used as metabolism booster.
- Great for Heart
There are some reasons why black gram dal is great for heart. The combination of fiber, potassium and magnesium are great to reduce the symptoms of high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Balances the Cholesterol Level
The amount of fiber found in black gram dal is enough to bind the unnecessary cholesterol level in your digestive system to be washed off from the system.
- Excellent Face Skin Mask
If you are looking for a natural skin mask solution, you could grind the black gram dal and mixed with honey or lemon juice. Apply the skin mask to your face and let it dry for a while before you wash it off from your face. The texture will help exfoliating the dead skin cells and reveal the true beauty of your skin.
Cautions of Black Gram Dal
Not only the health benefits of black gram dal, if you want to add this pulses to your daily diet, you should know about the cautions as well to reduce the side effect that may occurs when consuming black gram dal.
- One of the cases that mostly reported after consuming black gram dal is the increasing level of uric acid.
- Those who have been diagnosed with kidney stones, gout and gallstones should avoid eating black gram at all cost because as mentioned in the previous point, the high level of uric acid could worsen the conditions of gout, gallstones and kidney stones.
- If adding black gram dal is part of your specific diet program, perhaps consulting it with the professional is strongly required.
The best thing about black gram dal is the way you cook or consume it. Though there are a lot of Indian traditional cuisine recipes you could try but you could always be creative with the way you cook it because the texture which is similar to most beans, lentils and pulses, you could cook it just like the way you choose to cook your favorite beans or pulses.