The lentil is a type of pulse. It is a bushyannual plant of the legume family, grown for its lens-shapedseeds. It is about 15 inches (38 cm) tall and the seeds grow inpods, usually with two seeds in each.
The history of lentils goes bad 10,000 years. The ancient Greeks used lentils in a variety of ways including making bread. Catholics who could not afford to buy fish during lent ate lentils. The double convex optical lens gets its name ‘lenticular’ from the shape of the lentil.
Health Benefits of Lentils
Lentils are very rich in protein (about 26%), folic acid, and both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. Lentils are also very high in Vitamin C and the B vitamins, and contain eight of the essential amino acids. They also contain many trace minerals. Lentils are one of the highest sources of antioxidants found in winter growing legumes.
Since lentils contain a large amount of fiber, they are effective in lowering cholesterol and managing blood sugar disorders. Like common beans, the high fiber in lentils prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal. Studies have shown that eating beans or lentils two or more times per week was linked with a 24 percent reduced risk of beast cancer.
