Lentils are appreciated in cooking, nutrition, traditional and folk medicine because of their rich vitamin and mineral composition, high calorie content, the content of a large amount of vegetable protein, fiber and many useful properties that are exerted on the human body.

Lentil Characteristics

Lentils are a legume plant. Its grains contained in bean fruits have a rounded flattened shape. Their color, size and taste characteristics may vary, depending on the type and variety. They can be green, yellow, red, orange, brown.

Six types of lentils and methods for their application:

If we consider the chemical composition of lentil seeds, then they contain almost all vitamins and a large number of useful minerals. What substances are present in them and how much exactly can be found in the table.

Vitamins

Macronutrients

Trace elements

Lentils are a high-calorie product. The calorie content of 100 grams of the product is 295 kcal.

The energy value of the same amount of beans is as follows:

• 24 g of protein;
• 1.5 g of fat;
• 46.3 g of carbohydrates;
• 14 g of water;
• 11.5 g of dietary fiber;
• 2.7 g of ash.

Benefits and harm to the body

Due to such a valuable composition and KBZhU, with regular use, lentils are able to benefit the human body.

• Namely:
• improve brain function;
• to promote the fastest recovery of muscles undergoing severe physical exertion;
• beneficial effect on blood circulation;
• prevent the development of heart and vascular diseases;
• to normalize the level of cholesterol in the blood;
• accelerate metabolism and oxygen delivery;
• establish digestion;
• rid of dry skin;
• prevent the development of malignant tumors;
• strengthen the immune system;
• remove toxins;
• improve memory and concentration.

Men

Men should regularly use lentils, as they prevent the development of inflammation in the prostate gland and reduce the risk of prostatitis, increase blood flow in the pelvic organs and increase male strength. Beans are an excellent prophylactic against heart attack and stroke.

It is important that lentils be included in the regular diet of men who are actively involved in sports or are engaged in heavy physical work. It increases endurance, strengthens muscle tissue, leads to the fastest recovery of the body.

Women

For women, lentils are useful because of their ability to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer and benign uterine tumors. She is recommended to those women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome, irritability during this period.

It is also good to eat beans for women who have entered menopause or are on its threshold in order to mitigate or eliminate all the negative manifestations observed at this time. Since the product contains a large amount of folic acid, it is recommended to use it for pregnant women.

A sufficient content of this element in the body of the expectant mother and the saturation of the child with it does not allow the development of neural tube defects and eliminates the risk of premature birth, sharp jumps in blood pressure.

Despite its usefulness, the product can also cause harm to human health. It is necessary to watch, so as not to use it too often and too much, and also not to eat in the presence of individual intolerance. After eating lentils, some people may experience bloating and discomfort in the intestines.

The use of lentils for medicinal purposes

Lentils are advised to eat in case of poisoning, in order to quickly establish the digestive system, with increased physical activity, to replenish the body with energy and restore muscle function. This product must be present in the diet of vegetarians as the main source of vegetable protein.

He is also advised to eat for diabetes, depression, stomach ulcer, colitis, weakened immunity, high blood pressure, low hemoglobin. Despite the high calorie content, lentils are used for weight loss.

Important! If you eat green lentils in combination with rice or other cereals, then the body will be saturated with almost all the amino acids necessary for protein synthesis.

Against hepatitis

Boiled beans can positively affect the liver and update it, so they are advised to use for hepatitis. The green appearance of this culture is especially good at coping with the task of restoring normal liver function.

Prepare it without soaking as follows:

1. Sort grains and washed under running water.
2. A glass of washed lentils is poured into a pan with two glasses of water.
3. Bring to a boil.
4. Cook over low heat for 25-30 minutes until cooked.

Video: making delicious green lentils

Under pressure

Lentils are foods that can lower blood pressure. People prone to hypertension and hypertension are advised to consume green and red species. They are useful to combine with rice and potatoes. Red lentils, like green lentils, do not require soaking, but are cooked for 10-15 minutes, since they have no shell.

Important! In order for lentil dishes to be completely digested by the digestive system, they must be consumed at lunchtime. It is not recommended to eat them during dinner.

In addition to the usual side dishes, you can make mashed soup from it:

1. Boil 300 g of lentils.
2. Cut 1 tomato and 1 onion into large pieces.
3. Grind two carrots with a coarse grater.
4. On a fine grater, grate 10 g of ginger root.
5. Finely chop 2 cloves of garlic.
6. Place vegetables in a pan and lightly fry.
7. Put them in lentils.
8. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
9. Add some salt if desired.
10. Grind the ingredients with a blender.

Video: mashed soup with red lentils

With dysbiosis

Lentils should be used to improve digestion, but with dysbiosis it is not recommended. Such a violation leads to the fact that it splits worse, which means that there may be a feeling of discomfort in the intestine, pain and heaviness in the abdomen.

To raise hemoglobin

People who have anemia should be sure to include legumes and lentils in particular in their daily diet. It is included in the top 15 products that can increase hemoglobin and normalize blood formation processes.

With anemia, germinated beans should be eaten. They are filled with water and left for a day. Then remove, spray with water and cover with gauze, folded in several layers. After 2 days, the product can be consumed. Delicious salads can be prepared from sprouted lentils.

Here is the technology for making one of the popular recipes:

1. Straw 2 Bulgarian peppers.
2. Grind greens.
3. Add 100 g of sprouted beans.
4. Stir in salt and pepper to taste and 2 tbsp. l olive oil.

In what form can I use

Most often, lentils are used in boiled form - like porridge or soup. For maximum benefit, it is advised to eat raw sprouted beans. Salads, soups, seasonings, sauces can be prepared from seedlings. They go well with various cereals. Beans are also used for the preparation of meatballs, cabbage rolls, pies, casseroles, and pies toppings.

Did you know? On the walls of ancient buildings dating from the reign of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, images of the process of cooking and eating lentil soup were found.

Contraindications

There are a number of contraindications to the use of lentil dishes. Since they contain a large amount of protein, which is difficult to digest by the digestive system and leads to increased gas formation, these dishes should not be eaten by those who already have this problem, as well as those who have serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and dysbiosis.

• You should not eat this product for those people who have the following health problems:
• individual intolerance;
• gout;
• uric acid diathesis;
• chronic joint diseases;
• kidney disease
• biliary dyskinesia.

Pediatricians do not recommend eating this product to children who have not reached the age of 2 years due to the heavy digestibility of the still imperfect digestive system. From this time on, babies are offered soups, casseroles or salads. Children's doctors and nutritionists advise giving full-fledged garnish to children when they are 3 years old.

So, lentils are a nutritious product that is appreciated because of its rich vitamin-mineral and amino acid composition, high calorie content, many useful properties and the absence of gluten. Many delicious dishes can be prepared from it. Before you start eating it regularly, you should make sure that you are not on the list of people to whom this product is contraindicated.