Urad Dal, or Lentils are a key part of our meals. They are easy to find, yummy and good for your health. We often forget how healthy they are because they’re cheap and commonly available. Instead, we might look for fancy, expensive foods for nutrition. But why to do that when we have many Urad Dal benefits still unexplored?
In the old days, people used everyday household items to treat different health problems. Now, with modern medicine, we rely on chemical-filled medicines and supplements for even small problems. What we might not realise is that some common foods in our kitchen can help with these problems. Urad Dal, also known as Black lentil, is one such ingredient with many medicinal properties. It’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for a long time to help with various health issues. Fun Fact: India, United States, Indonesia, China, and Brazil are leading in the commercial production and export of Black Gram.
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Urad Dal is full of nutrients that boost overall energy levels and improve our digestion. It’s rich in fibre that helps in digestion, and its laxative properties can ease constipation. In India, it’s widely used in cooking, especially in the south for dishes like Idli, Dosa, and Vada. For vegetarians, it’s an excellent source of protein and vitamin B. Urad dal is a complete nutritional package and is rich in iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and folic acid.
In Ayurveda, Urad Dal is known as ‘Masha’ and is considered good for heart health. It’s used to treat various conditions like Asthma, Parkinson’s disease, Sciatica and Fatigue. It’s a crucial part of Ayurvedic detox treatments and the Urad Dal benefits are trusted for reducing inflammation, treating skin issues, relieving chronic pain and controlling blood sugar levels.
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Here are 10 Urad Dal benefits and why it must be a part of your diet:
One of the primary Urad Dal benefits is that it is rich in both soluble and insoluble fibre which helps in digestion. This fibre helps in adding bulk to the stool which helps promote peristaltic motion. Including Urad Dal in your diet can be particularly beneficial if you’re dealing with issues like diarrhoea, constipation, cramps, or bloating.
Beyond aiding in common digestive problems, Urad Dal benefits in addressing conditions such as piles and colic disorders. With quite a lot of benefits, we can safely conclude that urad dal is beneficial for maintaining gut health and relieving common digestive problems.
Urad Dal is good for heart health as it contains fibre, magnesium, and potassium. These nutrients help maintain cholesterol levels and prevent the onset of atherosclerosis.
Rich in potassium, Urad Dal helps improve blood circulation throughout the body, which can prevent potential damage to arterial walls. Including Urad Dal in your diet can be a proactive step in safeguarding your cardiovascular system and maintaining a healthy heart.
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Urad Dal proves to be a natural energy booster due to its rich iron content. Iron plays a vital role in elevating overall energy levels and keeps you active throughout the day. Iron is instrumental in stimulating the production of red blood cells, responsible for transporting oxygen to all organs in your body.
This quality makes Urad Dal particularly essential for pregnant women who often face a higher risk of iron deficiency. Regular consumption of Urad Dal helps replenish the body’s iron stores, contributing to a significant increase in energy levels, which is one of the main Urad Dal benefits.
Urad Dal, known for its diuretic properties, plays a crucial role in supporting kidney health. Regular consumption of this lentil facilitates the flushing out toxins, uric acid, excess fat, and calcium—substances that can accumulate in the kidneys and form stones. The natural diuretic property of Urad Dal promotes urination, significantly reducing the likelihood of kidney stone formation. Including Urad Dal in your diet contributes to maintaining a healthy and well-functioning kidney.
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Urad Dal comes with essential minerals like magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium, playing a pivotal role in enhancing bone mineral density. Regular consumption of Urad Dal contributes to preventing bone-related issues and supports overall bone health.
In addition to its benefits for bone health, Urad Dal strengthens the nervous system, promoting healthy brain function. Ayurvedic medicine often utilises Urad Dal to address conditions such as nervous debility, partial paralysis, facial paralysis, and other related disorders. Integrating Urad Dal into your diet can contribute to the well-being of your nervous system.
Regular intake of Urad Dal can help you experience an improvement in cognitive functions. It proves especially beneficial for individuals dealing with facial paralysis, nervous frailty, weak memory, hysteria, and schizophrenia. Including Urad Dal in your diet can be a valuable step toward supporting mental health and cognitive well-being.
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According to ancient medicine, imbalances in Vata can result in inflammation around tissues and joints, causing severe pain. Urad Dal benefits in soothing swollen tissues and alleviating joint pain. For instant relief, one can dry roast black gram and apply a warm poultice on the affected areas. Alternatively, a massage with black gram oil offers similar soothing effects, providing relief from discomfort associated with swollen tissues and joint pain.
Effective management of diabetes involves careful attention to your diet, and Urad Dal can play a significant role in this effort. Abundant in fibre, Urad Dal aids in regulating the absorption of nutrients by the digestive tract. This, in turn, assists in maintaining stable sugar and glucose levels, providing a valuable contribution to the overall management of diabetes. Incorporating Urad Dal into your diet can be a beneficial step in making diabetes more manageable.
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Urad Dal proves to be a prompt remedy for pain and inflammation. Packed with a high concentration of vitamins and minerals, it not only aids in boosting metabolism but also offers instant relief. Even creating a paste of Urad Dal and applying it topically on sore joints and muscles can provide relief.
Apart from its immediate soothing effects, Urad Dal benefits in reducing oxidative stress, adding another layer of benefit to its pain-relieving properties. Whether applied externally or consumed, Urad Dal offers a multifaceted approach to alleviating pain and inflammation.
Urad Dal is recognized as a top aphrodisiac food, and plays a pivotal role in promoting reproductive health. For men, it goes beyond being a rich source of nutrition – it enhances sperm count and motility while preventing issues like impotence and premature ejaculation.
In females, the consumption of Urad Dal dishes during menstruation proves beneficial by reducing abdominal and muscle cramps (dysmenorrhea). It addresses concerns related to scanty periods and aids in regularising the menstrual cycle. Additionally, a mixture of roasted black gram with jaggery powder is known to increase lactation in new mothers, offering a natural solution for breastfeeding support.
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Urad Dal, rich in minerals and vitamins, proves to be effective in reducing skin irritation and is a strong remedy against skin ageing. Its properties extend to eliminating marks and spots while promoting the circulation of oxygenated blood, which results in radiant and glowing skin. Urad Dal also aids in the removal of tans, and sunburns, and can contribute to reducing acne.
The benefits of Urad Dal are not confined to the skin alone; they extend to hair care as well. Packed with essential minerals and fatty acids, Urad Dal plays a role in controlling dry and brittle hair, making it a versatile ingredient for overall skin and hair health, hence it can act as an amazing conditioner. Just applying a paste of black gram will do!
Urad Dal is recognized for its role in facilitating weight gain through ancient medicinal practices. Being underweight can make a person susceptible to various diseases, with bony individuals facing risks like certain cancers, osteoporosis, and other bone-related ailments. Underweight men may experience issues such as reduced libido, lower semen volume, and an increased vulnerability to lung infections. Additional concerns include dry skin, wrinkles, arthritis, and brittle bones.
Ayurveda prescribes a specialised therapy known as ‘Brimhana Therapy’ for those aiming to gain weight. This treatment involves the consumption of specific dishes made from black gram and massages using Urad Dal oil. Through this approach, natural weight gain is promoted, immunity is enhanced, and muscles and tissues are strengthened.
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Urad Dal serves as a nutritional powerhouse. The unmatched Urad Dal benefits include- it helps improve digestion, heart health, energy, and reproductive well-being. Apart from its culinary uses, Urad Dal which is also known as Black gram, plays a pivotal role in Ayurvedic medicine. It helps in addressing problems ranging from diabetes to skin issues. Whether consumed or applied, its rich nutrient composition contributes to overall physical and mental well-being. Adding Urad Dal into your dietary routine is not only an intelligent choice for maintaining health but also an enriching supplement to your wellness routine.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is compiled information from generic and public sources. It is in no way a substitute, suggestion, or advice for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. BeatoApp does not claim responsibility for this information .
Dr. Navneet Agarwal is an established and highly skilled Diabetology with over 25 years of experience in Diabetology & Obesity. He is well-regarded for his quality and patient-centered diabetes care. Also, keep track of your blood sugar levels with a Doctors’ approved smart glucometer and elevate your healthcare routine.