Red Lentil Dal
Photo by Amna Shoukat on Unsplash
Many people with weak digestion** have difficulty tolerating beans.
Chinese medicine differentiates between large beans - which are more likely to cause bloating - and small beans (lentils, split peas, mung beans, adzuki beans) - which are usually well tolerated. Of these, lentils are considered the easiest to digest.
They are high in fiber, which supports peristalsis and healthy movement of food through the digestive tract. In our diagnostic language we say they "clear stagnation."
Red lentils, specifically, help build Blood - an important element in treating symptoms that share Blood deficiency as their root. This can include certain types of fatigue, insomnia, heart palpitations, mood disorders, muscle pain and headache, dizziness and lightheadedness, and tinnitus, and also includes scanty menstruation, thin uterine lining, and amenorrhea, among others.
Lentils also a great source of plant-based protein - one cup of cooked lentils contains about 18g. This means two cups of dal for lunch yields the protein equivalent of a 3-4oz serving of chicken breast.
Like nearly everything we cook, it's packed with flavor and veggies, freezes well for batch cooking, and get more delicious as it sits in the fridge for a couple of days of follow-up lunches or dinners.
Give it a try! If you like it, tag me on social media here and let me know what you think.
Find our Red Lentil Dal recipe, here.
**Side note: weak digestion can be strengthened... and should be if we're interested in good health over time. If even small beans like lentils cause you digestive distress, the problem isn't the beans - it's the digestion. Digesting our food with ease is foundational to good health over time. I encourage you to get interested in the strength of your digestive function - and curious about how you might support it. Chinese medicine has a lot to offer in this arena.
✅ Subscribe to my newsletter for seasonal wellness insights and self-care tips rooted in Chinese medicine. See sign-up link, below.
