Lentil Nutrition

"Let food be your medicine and your medicine be your food. Each one of the substances in a person's diet, acts upon the body and changes it in some way, and upon these changes the whole life depends, whether in health, in sickness or convalescent."  

Hippocrates 2 000 years ago.

Table of Contents

1. Major Lentil Nutrients.
2. Benefits of Lentils.
3. Lentils and Colon Cancer.
4. Lentil Nutrition for Heart Disease.
5. Lentil Nutrition for Keeping Immunity Strong.
6. Lentils and Depression.
7. Lentils and Cholesterol.
   
   
   

Lentils are an excellent meat supplement and are easily digested as a soup or mash, which makes it a nutritious meal for the elderly, the sick and babies.

Lentils are a biblical food, going back to some 6000 BC!  It was found in the pyramids, in the tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs and is mentioned in the Old Testament.

The ancient Romans believed that lentils were a cure for diarrhea and conducive to an even temper.

Welcome to our exploration of the incredible benefits of lentils, a versatile and nutritious legume that has been enjoyed in cuisines around the world for centuries.

One of the standout benefits is their potential to reduce the risk of colon cancer, They are an excellent source if dietary fiber, which plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy digestive system.

Lentils may also have a positive impact on mental health depression.  They are an excellent source of folate, a B-vitamin that is essential for brain health and the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, play a crucial role in regulating mood.

Join us on this journey as we delve deeper into the remarkable benefits of lentils and explore the numerous ways they can enhance your health and well-being.

Major Lentil Nutrients 

Vitamins A, B & C Calcium Iron Phosphorus Potassium Protein Dietary Fiber Zinc

Main Benefits of Lentils

Excellent for the Heart. A body builder. Energy Booster. Helpful for Low blood pressure. Anemia. Ulcerated stomach. Ulcerated digestive tract. Lowers cholesterol. Reduces risk of breast cancer. Help for Mental Health.

Prevention Boosters for Colon Cancer.

• Lentils as we have mentioned are an excellent source of folate which is  a B Vitamin also known as folic acid.
• According to research they are  good prevention boosters for those with a  family history of colon cancer.

Lentil Nutrition for Prevention of Heart Disease

• Researchers have found that individuals with a higher intake of folate were less likely to have suffered a heart attack than those with a low intake of the B Vitamin.
• Folate is responsible for lowering levels of an amino acid called homocysteine.   While the body needs homocysteine to produce muscle and bone tissue, in large amounts, it can injure blood vessels, causing hardening of the arteries.
• High homocysteine levels are an important contributor to heart disease.
• Lentils are a good source of the folate required, and  homocysteine levels can be brought down easily with modest amounts of folate in the diet.

Lentil Nutrition for Keeping Immunity Strong

More Zinc enriched Foods

• Too little zinc can lead to a drop in infection-fighting white blood cells, which can increase your risk of getting sick.
• Despite the proven powers of zinc, we still don't seem to get enough of it.  And this is where the lentils come into it.
• 1 cup of lentils has 3 milligrams or 20% of the daily value of zinc required to help keep our immunity strong.

Lentils for Prevention of Depression

• Research suggests including more folate-rich foods in your diet as it has been found that people suffering from depression are very often deficient in the B Vitamin.
• Lentils are a great source of folate and ½  cup of cooked lentils contains 179 micrograms  of this B Vitamin which is 45% of the daily value required.
• Try having your lentils in a delicious soup or an easy and simple to make salad.

Lentils for Lowering Cholesterol

• 85g of cooked lentils are believed to reduce cholesterol an average of 10%.
• It is also believed to regulate blood sugar levels and an excellent food for diabetics.

YOUR NATURAL MEDICINE CHEST

What to Keep in your Medicine Chest

Arnica

Keep a tube of this cream for relief for muscle strains as well as bruises.

Calendula

Get this from your health shop in a cream or gel form and use as a salve for burns, cuts, scrapes and insect bites

Chammomile

Use the dried flowers to make a tea and use for stressful situations and also stomach upsets.

Echinacea

You can get these at your health shop as an  extracts or capsuled and use for colds, flu, cuts, infections and scrapes.

Eucalyptus

An absolute must for your herbal medicine chest for respiratory congestion and muscle soreness.

Ginger

Use this herb as a fresh root from your veggie store, or if you like gardening, grow them, it is an excellent medication for colds, respiratory congestion, nausea and stomach upsets

Lavender

Keep Lavender as an essential oil for stress, insomnia and headaches.

Sea Salt

Gargle with this salt for sore throats and also for bath salts.

Tea Tree

Use as an essential oil for skin infections and insect bites.

Valerian

Use as an extract for mild pain relief and insomnia

Find out how the many ways one can prepare herbs for usage.

A-Z of Ailments and the Herb that can be used to help the symptoms.

An uncomplicated way of understanding the terminology used in this website.

Natural Laxatives for daily use and also for when there is an emergency.

Healing Plants A comprehensive list of Healing Plants which highlights a specific medical action and links all the applicable common herbs to that action.

Natural Antibiotics Natural Antibiotics - straight from heaven to planet earth especially for you.

Natural Antioxidants If its not life threatening, why not take a look at the natural sources available to us first??

Iron Deficiency As one gets older it is believed that even a slight deficit in iron my slow down thinking and impair the memory, so keep the memory and brainpower going by ensuring you are getting enough iron in your diet.

Calcium Deficiency A calcium deficiency can affect us in so many ways from cancer to osteoporosis, to high blood pressure, to epilepsy.

Magnesium Deficiency