10 reasons to eat more lentils

The legumes are nuts legumes and among them we find the lentils , the beans or chickpeas . They are native to southwest Asia and were already cultivated and consumed 10,000 years ago in the Euphrates area. Currently, lentils have become one of the legumes that we consume the most in the world. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans considered them an essential food and this is still the case in the Mediterranean diet .

They are very easy to cook and we can use them to prepare recipes as varied as salads, purees, hummus, croquettes, stews, hamburgers, sprouts, etc.

.

10 facts you should know about the properties of lentils

1.- They are rich in essential minerals for our body such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, selenium and calcium.

2.- They provide us with vitamins as important as A, B1, B6 and C, which have an antioxidant effect and participate in many of the reactions that take place in our body.

3.- They are easy to digest, so they are especially recommended for people who have difficult digestions .

4.- Lentils are an excellent source of vegetable protein . However, to provide all the essential amino acids it is preferable to combine them in the same meal with a cereal

5.- Thanks to the fiber that lentils provide us, intestinal transit is improved and we avoid constipation. Fiber also makes us feel full for longer by delaying the feeling of hunger . This fiber also helps prevent hypertension.

6.- These legumes have almost zero fat content, being a very beneficial food for those people who are following a diet to lose weight and who want to monitor their weight.

7.- Lentils are a source of carbohydrates that provide us with energy to carry out our activities during the day.

8.- They help us regulate blood glucose levels, something very important to avoid diabetes .

9.- Lentils improve the functioning of our nervous system as well as the mood due to the B vitamins they contain.

10.- It is recommended to include lentils in our diet between one and three times a week.

The pardina, the lentil, the blonde or the verdina are some of the varieties of lentils that we can find in the markets.