GREEN GRAM OR MOONG DAL DOSA WITH UPMA:-)

Hmm..Pesarattu(Moong(green gram) dal dosa) with Upma was our breakfast today. It was really exotic, with a bland taste and when I say bland there is an advantage of having bland foods as we will be able to  enjoy the flavours of all other spices mixed along with them. Interesting..Right..

We can even crown the versatile moong dal as the leader of lentils with the heap of health benefits it offers to our body.  Moong dal is being  used in Ayurveda extensively since ancient times in Asian countries. The moong dal is available commercially as an unprocessed version with all the husk intact and is green in colour (green gram dal), and the processed version which is yellow in colour and all  the greenery removed;-). The difference between both is just the extra thick fibre content is removed but still the yellow coloured dal has enough dietary fibre in it.

This leader of lentils is compactly packed with Vitamins like Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B7(folate), B5, D, C, E, K and Minerals like Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Zinc, Copper. The phytoestrogens present in moong dal stimulates production of collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid and these in turn maintain the skin and hair integrity and elasticity,  making you look younger with a glowing skin  and also gives a  perfect cushion effect for your joints thereby reducing stiffness of joints..That's really great..Isn't it??

Moong dal is a rich source of protein especially for vegetarians and it meets nearly 80% of protein that is obtained from egg. Due to its high fibre, negligible amount of fat and lesser calories  moong dal helps in cleansing your digestive system. Excellent food for weight loss as the protein and fibre keeps you full for quite a long time. Moong dal is a sweetheart for the diabetics, with low glycemic index, Diabetics can enjoy sweet memories with moong dal;-)

Vitexin and Isovitexin are the two magical flavonoids hiding in the yellow, husky dal which fights with oxidative stress that occurs to the cells and thus helping in scavenging all the bad cholesterol out of your body. Sounds perfect and makes me compare this dal with a romantic as well as a protective lover:-) What say friends..

The high amount of folate adds extra benefit to the pure, bland dal. Folate  has many functions like DNA synthesis, improves reproductivity, promotes tissue growth, improves your memory and maintains a good hormonal balance. Folate along with its dear friends named pyridoxine(Vitamin B6) and Magnesium helps in reducing the severity of pain, relieves cramps, mood swings, relaxes muscles and improves headache thus suppressing the premenstrual symptoms.

If you worry which type of moong dal should you prefer, either green unprocessed one or yellow processed one, the processed yellow dal is best for elders, infants and toddlers and even sick people as this dal is easy to digest and at the same time offers extensive nutrients.

Moong dal can used as a simple dal, cooked along with rice(kichidi), or even can be prepared in the form of pancakes(dosas).

Writing so much about moong dal and how can I miss to have it in my lunch too;-)

Bye, Friends.. Lets connect with another post mentioning the health benefits of Suji rawa upma.

Good day.