Lentils Provide Great Nutritional Value While Supporting Quick Weight Loss

The nutrients in lentils help in your overall well-being and are a great boost in weight loss for the following reasons:

Protein

Lentils contain high levels of proteins which are digested slowly so keep you full longer. This prevents overeating between meals thus aiding in weight loss.

Proteins also include essential amino acids which are not produced by the body. The main method to get them is through the foods we eat. The following are some of the amino acids contained in lentils and their effect on the body:

Isoleucine - Increases endurance for exercising and aids in repairing muscle tissue.

Lysine - Strengthens teeth and bones and helps to lower cholesterol.

Methinone - Helps your body eliminate fat.

Cystine - An antioxidant that protects the body against pollutants so is an effective detox tool.

Dietary Fiber

The dietary fiber in lentils is digested slowly so prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal. This aids in preventing weight gain since this spike is what causes fat storage in the cells.

Soluble and Insoluble fiber

Soluble Fiber forms a substance similar to gel that attaches to bile which contains cholesterol and fat and eliminates it from the body through waste.

Insoluble Fiber increases stool bulk and prevents constipation keeping you regular. This allows the liver to function as a fat burner rather than a filter that repeatedly processes food retained in the digestive tract.

Iron Content

This nutrient is important since sufficient iron gives us the energy needed to complete exercises that burn more calories and help us lose weight. People who do not ingest sufficient iron are often anemic so have low energy and are very unlikely to participate in activities.

Low Calorie and Fat Content

In addition to other ways of promoting weight loss, lentils are low in calories and fat. A cup of cooked lentils which is sufficient for a satisfactory meal contains approximately 230 calories and between 1 and 4 grams of fat depending on how they are prepared. Compare this to a McDonald's or Burger king large burger which contains between 650 and 800 calories.

Consuming this food as your noonday or evening meal a few times a week will go a long way toward reducing calories by 500 per day, the amount necessary to lose a pound per week.

Lentils in your Diet

The most common way we eat lentils is in soup or stews. These are great because they also include plenty of water. This soup is available at most cafeterias or delis or canned at the grocery store. The best choice is to make the soup at home so you know all the ingredients. Search online for recipes and give it a try until you learn to tailor to your individual taste.

Other alternatives include bean salads and casseroles.

If you have not eaten lentils, try something new. As you can see, they are loaded with nutrients and are a great way to lose weight