Lentils are an excellent source of nutrition, especially when they are steamed. This allows them to have their nutrient profile maintained, and also their taste retained. But for many people, the issue with lentils is that they are relatively high in fat. Let us look at how we can use legumes to help us get the most out of them.
One way that lentils nutrition helps you control your blood sugar levels is that it speeds up your digestive system. When you eat a lot of fresh vegetables or fruits, you have to take your time to break them down slowly. This means that your body has to release digestive enzymes into the bloodstream. With a high level of these digestive enzymes, your blood glucose levels stay more constant throughout the day, ensuring a stable feeling even without eating too much.
Another aspect of lentils nutrition is that it provides plenty of protein. Many of the recipes you'll find for this type of food call for animal products, such as meat, poultry, and eggs. While some people argue that by including these types of foods, you are cheating out your animal friends, other experts point out that the nutrients and proteins in the plant-based products like kidney beans, buckwheat, and millet will compensate for the lack of meat and poultry proteins in the recipes. Therefore, you get lots of protein in exchange for a few fewer animals.
It's also worth mentioning that lentils contain a surprising amount of fiber. While their protein level may not be as high as some other types of grains and legumes, they still make a good source of fiber. The difference comes from how the fiber is used by the body. Many people mistakenly think that lentils have to be starchy like rice or wheat, but they actually have a relatively low level of carbohydrates.
Because of their moisture content, cooking with dried lentils helps to keep them from losing all of their nutrients. Instead, you should cook with them until they are tender but not mushy. Cooked dry lentils will retain almost all of their nutrients - especially their vitamin B - even after they are cooked. For example, the enzyme lipase helps to break down fatty acids in your body and keeps them from being turned into fat. Cooking with dried lentils will help your body use this valuable enzyme. That's why they make such an excellent source of protein.
Another one of the many lentils nutrition facts is that they are one of the few plant foods that has complete protein content - which means they contain all eight essential amino acids. Many other plant foods are lacking these nutrients. These include: Vitamin A, B, E, and K. Other nutrients that are beneficial to your diet include: folate (a type of B-vitamin), iron, and magnesium. Low levels of fiber may be causing you to experience gastrointestinal problems.
Finally, lentils nutrition includes moderate amounts of calories and fat. They provide most of the calories you need through their complex carbohydrate makeup. They do not store excess energy and make it possible for you to eat large quantities of meals without feeling hungry. Their fiber content keeps your stools soft, and their long-digesting process ensures that your digestion does not become sluggish. Overall, lentils nutrition helps you maintain a healthy weight and increases your nutrient absorption and keeps you from experiencing the potential health risks associated with eating too much red meat, processed and packaged foods, and refined carbohydrates.