Here Are 5 Amazing Reasons To Add Lentils To Your Diet

Click Here to Discover 5 “Living Nutrients” That Allow Almost Any Woman to Burn More Fat & Banish Bloating…

With a new superfood popping up every day, it’s hard to keep track of what’s actually healthy for you and what is more of a trend. But when it comes to lentils, this is one superfood that really does do wonders for your body. 

Take a journey with me as I break down some of the key benefits of lentils. I will also cover some tips and tricks for incorporating lentils easily into your diet.

Simple and versatile, get ready to make lentils your new best friend.

1) Get Healthier Hair & Skin

If you’re looking for healthier hair and glowing skin, then you may want to consider cooking up some lentils with dinner tonight.

These small legumes contain a big dose of iron, which is essential in maintaining a healthy body and luscious locks. One cup of lentils can satisfy 37% of your recommended daily iron intake.

Everyone, especially women, can benefit from added iron in their diet… as a lack of iron can cause some serious health concerns. Low iron levels in women is the most common nutrient deficiency, and women require up to 18g of iron per day – almost double that of men!

Iron is what your red blood cells use to carry oxygen around the body. Without it, your red blood cells won’t be as healthy, and your body will lack the proper amount of oxygen needed to function correctly.

If you notice your hair is thin, dull, or brittle, then you may not be getting enough iron in your diet. This can be helped by making some delicious lentil soup, or you can try lentil stuffed peppers for a healthy twist on a classic

2) Consume Good Carbs

When you think of carbs, you most likely aren’t picturing a superfood… but surprisingly, not all carbs are bad for you.

Foods and drinks like white bread, sweet pastries, and soda pop are all simple carbs that will have a negative effect on you and can cause weight gain. But foods like fruits, vegetables, and even lentils are all complex carbs that can actually help with weight loss and provide other health benefits.

Lentils are quite low on the glycemic index, which is a scale that measures how much a food makes your blood sugar spike. Not only do they keep you feeling full and satisfied longer, but they also digest slowly. This allows your blood sugar to remain steady while your body gets the fuel it needs.

Aside from just being a great carb, lentils are jam-packed with nutrients, too. In a single cup of lentils, you will find 18g of protein and 15g of fiber… all inside a mere 230 calories.

Lentils come in many variations, so change your mind on carbs with these delicious, nutrient-dense legumes.

3) Boost Your Gut Health

You may have heard that eating foods like yogurt are great for your gut, and that’s because those items contain probiotics. Probiotics are living microorganisms that maintain a healthy balance in your digestive system and are incredibly important.

But did you know that those tiny organisms need food in order to survive?

Prebiotics are the dietary fiber that feeds the microorganisms in your gut. They are an essential part of keeping your digestive system working properly.

Luckily, you can gain some of that dietary fiber from consuming lentils as part of your diet.

One cup of lentils is packed with half of your recommended daily fiber amount. This will help reduce your risk of obesity, as well as help regulate your overall digestive system.

There are even some studies that have found prebiotics assist with your general mood as well as mood disorders.

4) Get A Better Night’s Sleep

Magnesium is another essential nutrient that your body requires on a daily basis. From reducing headaches, lowering stress levels, and affecting your quality of sleep, magnesium plays an important role in many things.

With 71mg of magnesium per cup of lentils, you may notice that you feel less stressed throughout the day and more relaxed come bedtime. Making up 22% of your daily recommended magnesium intake, lentils can go a long way in giving you deeper, more restful periods of sleep.

Magnesium also helps support lower blood pressure… reduce your risk of depression… and fight against type 2 diabetes. So swap out your meatloaf for a lentil loaf, and see those energy levels increase after a great night’s sleep.

5) Lower Your Cholesterol

The older you get, the more changes you will start to see in your heart. Your vessels can become weaker, and you may develop issues such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 

One way to combat the effects of aging on the heart is to consume foods that can actually lower your cholesterol levels and reduce your blood pressure. The amount of fiber found in lentils can significantly reduce your bad cholesterol, while also increasing the amount of good cholesterol found in the body.

Lowered cholesterol means a lowered risk of stroke and heart diseases, but the heart benefits don’t stop there.

Some studies have found that lentils can also lower your overall blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause heart disease as well as affect your kidneys and has even been linked to dementia.

By adding more lentils into your diet, you can effectively reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by up to 15%, and your risk of cardiovascular disease by 11%.

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The above list highlights just a few of the numerous health benefits that come from adding more lentils to your diet.

But you may be asking yourself, “How exactly do I go about cooking and using lentils?” We recommend trying some of these tips:

• Cook lentils in a similar fashion to rice, but with a 3:1 water to lentil ratio
• You can soak your lentils to reduce cooking time, but it is not required
• Swap out potatoes or rice for lentils at dinner time
• Use lentils to make soups, stews, or curries
• Season them well to assist with the unfamiliar taste
• Sneak lentils into your salads or quesadillas

There are numerous recipes that can be found online to help you make the switch to a more lentil-rich diet. So bust out some recipes and get creative in the kitchen so you can see all of the wonderful benefits for yourself!

Here’s one recipe to get you started:

Heart-Healthy Lentil Tacos

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 1 tsp canola oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2-1/2 cups vegetable or reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup salsa
• 12 taco shells
• 1-1/2 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
• 1-1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
• 6 Tbsp fat-free sour cream

Directions

1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and saute until tender. 
2. Add lentils, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
3. Stir in the vegetable or chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer until the lentils are tender (about 25-30 minutes).
4. Once the lentils are tender, cook, uncovered, until the mixture is thickened (about 6-8 minutes). Stir occasionally.
5. Mash lentils slightly using a potato masher. Stir in salsa and heat through.
6. Serve in taco shells and top with lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, and sour cream as desired.

Nutrition Facts

2 tacos: 365 calories, 12g fat (5g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 777mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 6g fiber), 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.

Inspired by Taste of Home.

However You Decide To Prepare Your Lentils… Eat Them At THIS Surprising Time To Maximize Your Weight Loss Efforts…

So now you know that lentils are actually one of the most powerful foods for weight loss, beauty, and even better sleep!

And, there’s a recipe for everyone out there.

Google “lentil recipes” and you’ll find about 50 million ideas for soups… lentil salads… and even lentil-based pastas… which is great!

But that’s only half the equation… and it’s where most people miss out.

When it comes to maximizing weight loss, it’s not just about what you do. It’s about WHEN you do it.

When you have the right foods at the right times, you can have results that even living on tasteless salads could never give you.

Lentils are a powerful weight-loss ally and definitely WILL keep you feeling full… 

But it’s not the *best* combination with your morning coffee, if you know what I mean. 

Fortunately, there’s a way to get all of your lentils’ superpowers without hurting your social life. 

Studies reveal how you can get incredible results by eating protein-rich foods like lentils at night, right before bed.

If you want to supercharge your metabolism and burn extra calories, lentils are your new nighttime bff.

Eating more protein at night has not only been linked to more weight loss, extra calorie burn, and a metabolism boost… 

But it’s also a GREAT way to banish those irresistible late-night ice cream cravings (hey, we’ve all been there).

Here’s the surprising science that shows you why, plus two more shockingly simple things you can do at night time to boost metabolism, and burn a few extra calories while you catch some Zzz’s:

Click Here To Why You Should Eat Your Protein At Night (Plus 2 More Easy Ways To Burn More Fat While You Sleep)