In praise of lentils!
Nutritious. Delicious. Fiber-loaded. Nutty on their own and take to a variety of flavors easily. Inexpensive. Easy to cook on stove top.
Ken and I both enjoy lentils, and even the kids will eat them; Madeleine especially when she puts cinnamon and sugar on them.
We always kind of liked lentils, but then we re-discovered them in Spain (2009) where they were prevalent and quite inexpensive.
Red lentils. Green lentils. Yellow Lentils.
GREAT RECIPE: Moroccan Chicken and Lentils (and broccoli)
One of my favorite, go-to nutrition websites, World’s Healthiest Foods, aka: WHFoods says this about lentils:
Health Benefits
Lentils, a small but nutritionally mighty member of the legume family, are a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber. Not only do lentils help lower cholesterol, they are of special benefit in managing blood-sugar disorders since their high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal. But this is far from all lentils have to offer. Lentils also provide good to excellent amounts of six important minerals, two B-vitamins, and protein—all with virtually no fat. The calorie cost of all this nutrition? Just 230 calories for a whole cup of cooked lentils. This tiny nutritional giant fills you up--not out.
Lentils—A Fiber All Star
Check a chart of the fiber content in foods; you'll see legumes leading the pack. Lentils, like other beans, are rich in dietary fiber, both the soluble and insoluble type. Soluble fiber forms a gel-like substance in the digestive tract that snares bile (which contains cholesterol)and ferries it out of the body. Research studies have shown that insoluble fiber not only helps to increase stool bulk and prevent constipation, but also helps prevent digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis.
Likewise, Livestrong.com’s nutritional information about lentils provides a well informed resource about the benefits of Lentils. If you’re interested in how ‘good for you’ these legumes are, the website is worth a visit.
I wonder how many delicious ways we can enjoy these healthy legumes??
~Enjoy!
