When I got introduced to Dan Buettner in my quest to research beans, lentils and legumes, I stumbled upon his 6 secrets to increase longevity, and he stresses on beans as an important element of your diet.
If you are unsure about consuming beans and you are worried about its effect on your gut, read this succinct blue zones page on Why Beans are the #1 Longevity Food and how to avoid the gas!
“A cup of beans a day could add two to three years to your life.”
Individuals in the Blue Zones live to be for over 100 Years Old…
Centenarians in the blue zones eat about a cup of beans every day and often consume a handful of fresh vegetables or greens from their kitchen gardens. Beans and greens are two of the top Blue Zones longevity foods because they feed good bacteria in your gut. Dan Buettner developed this spinach dal recipe to feature both.
Are beans and legumes the same?
Legumes are plants that bear fruit that grows in pods. Beans are the seed from different varieties of plants, although typically the whole plant is referred to as beans.
Legumes can be broken down into different subsections including: beans, lentils, peas and peanuts.
My favorite lentil!
Yellow gram like other lentils and pulses is a good source of protein and dietary fibre. It is low in fat and rich in B complex vitamins, calcium and potassium. It is free from heaviness and flatulence, which are associated with other pulses.
Extremely light and high on protein and fibre, moong dal keeps untimely hunger pangs at bay. Presence of these two nutrients- protein and fibre – make moong dal an effective option for weight loss. According to the USDA nutrition data; 100 grams serving of moong dal has 16 grams of fibre and 24 grams of protein.
A cup of cooked lentils has 18g protein.
Refer to the image above for stats on cooked lentils and click the photo to learn more.
If you follow a plant-based diet or are thinking of converting to one, here is a book that I recommend you read.
To Be(an)ing!
xoxo,
Nishi
