Food of the Month: Love Your Lentils

edit

December 18, 2012

Care of Amy Symington

Lentils are a hearty way to fuel your body! Part of the pulse family, they’re packed with fibre, Folate, Vitamin B1, iron, protein and are brimming with essential amino acids. They come in almost every colour of the rainbow from French Green to Masoor Crimson Red and they have even more culinary uses. From lentil burgers to hearty stews, stuffed pastries to pasta sauces and succulent side salads, the delicious list goes on and on.

In terms of health benefits, there are a plenty! From all that glorious fibre they can aid in lowering cholesterol levels and help to maintain blood sugar levels, which is phenomenal in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and/or diabetes. Consuming them during pregnancy is great for the ladies with the babies in obtaining sufficient amounts of Folate needed to keep thoughts of neural tube defects out of their minds. The high levels of iron in this tasty pulse also keep any concerns for iron deficiencies at bay.

Teamed up with a grain or rice dish, one can obtain a meal that is complete in all the essential amino acids that our bodies need but don’t produce. Also, since the protein content of lentils is practically fat-free with no sign of saturated fat they will fill you up without filling you out. Who needs animal protein when there is our little friend the lentil around?

If all this nutrition talk doesn’t sell you, the price will. They are one of the most inexpensive and massively utilized sources of protein in the world. As a Canadian you’ll also be happy to know that we are the second highest leading producer of lentils, so why not support our nation’s bountiful gifts while simultaneously making an exceptionally healthy yet mouth-watering meal?

Filed under: Eat Veg elifelines Food of the Month Nutrition