When trying to find great food items to include in your diet, particularly if you maintain a low carb lifestyle, it can be difficult to come up with new healthy options. Since legumes and other types of beans are readily available and offer protein and fiber, these are often a staple for the low carb dieter. One type of legume that has many health benefits is the lentil. If you are unaware of the health benefits provided by lentils, read on.
The Health Benefits of Lentils
Lentils offer a wide variety of health benefits whether you adhere to a low carb diet or any other type of diet. They provide protein, fiber, folate, iron, and a variety of other minerals that the body need. The high content of beneficial nutrients in lentils make it a great bean choice to add into your regular diet. Recent studies have shown that the high content of fiber in lentils can lower bad cholesterol even when only consumed twice a week. Lentils are a great option for diabetics and other low carb dieters as well, because they contain so much fiber that they help limit the rise in blood sugar that can occur after a meal. This makes lentils a staple healthy item to include in any low carb diet or in any other diet for an easy way to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
Incorporating Lentils into Your Diet
There are many ways to incorporate lentils into your diet to achieve these healthy benefits. Lentils are a legume that cooks more quickly than many types of beans, and they are a very affordable option when purchased dry. You can include lentils in soups, chili, or even serve them cold atop a salad. With affordability and ease of cooking, lentils offer a simple way to help regulate blood sugar, achieve dietary protein goals, and to help lower bad cholesterol.
Lentils in Other Foods
If you don’t have the time to prepare lentils, or you don’t care for the flavor, but you want to achieve the health benefits that lentils have to offer, you are not out of luck. There are a variety of foods that you can easily sneak lentils in without affecting the flavor much. Including them in chili, a pasta dish, and other sauce-based foods is a great way garner the health benefits even if you don’t care for lentils (these are a great option for sneaking lentils into the diet of your family members as well). They make a quick and easy health bonus for any low carb or other healthy diet.
Thanks for reading our article! If you are ready to stock up on great foods that include lentils, visit us at Linda’s Diet Delites!