Toor dal, also known as Arhar dal is widely cultivated in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Dals are legumes filled up with protein, vitamins, and minerals. Dals are a must in Indian kitchens and are mostly an important part of Indian meals (be it lunch or dinner). Toor dal being a dal is no exception. So today, we are going to talk about the health benefits of toor dal.
Table of Contents
What is toor dal?
Toor dals are pulses or legumes which are also known as “arhar dal” or “pigeon peas”. Toor dal belongs to the Fabaceae family and is generally yellow and round in shape. Toor dal is famous as it is one of the best sources of protein for vegetarians.
Nutritional information
100 grams of cooked toor dal contains 187 Kcal of energy, 3g fat, 30g carbohydrates, 1g sugar, 15g fiber, 12g protein, 273mg sodium, 530 mg potassium and many more vital nutrients required by your body.
11 health benefits of toor dal
1. Lowers and checks blood pressure
Eating toor dal on a regular basis lowers and checks your blood pressure levels. Toor dal is rich in potassium and it helps in the removal of sodium through urine. Potassium found in toor dal is also responsible for relaxing the blood vessel walls and thus helping in lowering blood pressure. People with high blood pressure should include toor dal in their diet.
2. Helps in muscle building and body development
Toor dal has been an important part of a vegetarian’s diet for so many years. This is because toor dal is highly rich in protein. 1 cup of cooked toor dal consists of about 11gram protein, which contributes to the ultimate growth and development of the body.
3. Increases the total blood count
Arhar or toor dal is highly rich in folates which are required by the human body in high amounts. Lack of folates in the body leads to a decrease in blood count and ultimately leads to anemia. As a result, toor dal should be consumed regularly to prevent anemia.
4. Cures inflammation
The various parts of the arhar plant are used for the treatment of various types of diseases. Regular consumption of toor dal helps in the treatment of the various types of inflammation in the body especially the paste of toor peas is a famous home remedy for the treatment of hemorrhoids.
5. Helps in weight loss
Although Toor dal is rich in nutritional content, it lacks in calorie content. It also has a low content of cholesterol and saturated fat. As a result toor dal helps you in weight loss by reducing your appetite and sudden cravings. It also helps in boosting your metabolism.
6. Great for your heart
Toor dal is rich in potassium, fiber and has a very low cholesterol content. As a result, it is great for your heart. Potassium plays a major role in reducing blood pressure and creates a great environment for your heart. Fiber maintains cholesterol levels. Toor dal plays a major role in preventing atherosclerosis ( arteries get blocked ) by maintaining cholesterol levels.
7. Considered great for your digestive system
Just like other legumes, toor dal is considered great for your digestive system. The Fiber present in toor dal plays a major role in increasing your motions and prevents constipation, inflammation, and diarrhea.
8. Great for your immunity system
The high presence of Magnesium in toor dal helps in increasing the immunity of your body. We all know, how important it is to increase your immunity during this Covid scenario.
9. Great for your bones and teeth
Toor dal being rich in phosphorous plays a major role in making your teeth and bones strong. Phosphorous is highly required by your body and toor dal is a rich source of it.
10. Great for your skin and hair
You might be thinking about how Toor dal can be great for your skin and hair? Well, it is because of the presence of Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin in toor dal. Riboflavin helps in the treatment of skin problems, hair problems and supports eye health. Riboflavin also helps in the treatment of wrinkles by boosting the collagen level in your body.
11. Protects your skin
The presence of Vitamin B3 or niacin in toor dal helps in protecting your skin from sun damage. The harmful radiation from the sun ( especially UV rays) affects our skin to a great extent. We protect the skin externally by using sunscreens but in order to protect the skin internally, vitamin B3 is required by the body. Toor dal acts as the source of niacin in our regular diet.
Conclusion
So now you see, how important it is to introduce toor dal in your regular diet. Toor dal has several health benefits and no side effects, which makes it a hidden gem.
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