Is it good to soak dal in water: Lentils are a very healthy and nutritious grain. They are rich in protein, fibre, iron etc. Lentils are cooked in every household. People like to eat lentils with rice and roti. Lentils are cooked in many ways. Some people wash it and directly add salt and turmeric and pack it in the cooker. But, is this method of cooking lentils healthy and correct? Should we soak pulses in water for a while before cooking them? Let’s know here.
Benefits of preparing lentils by soaking them in water
According to a news published in TOI, when you soak lentils in water, it not only takes less time to cook, but it also has many health benefits. This not only improves the texture, flavor, but also absorbs nutrients, and it is also digested quickly. Actually, lentils contain some anti-nutrients like tannins, polyphenols which can hinder digestion and absorption of nutrients. Soaking lentils can reduce the amount of phytic acid present in it. Phytic acid can prevent the absorption of essential minerals like iron, zinc, calcium. When you soak lentils, these nutrients become more bioavailable.
Digestion will be better by soaking lentils in water
When you soak lentils in water, the complex sugars present in it like oligosaccharides break down. This can cause bloating, gas, etc. This way, lentils become easier to digest and there is no digestive problem.
Lentils cook quickly
When you soak the lentils in water after washing them, they cook quickly. After soaking in water, the lentils become soft. This makes them cook quickly. This saves both your time and gas. Since soaked lentils cook quickly, you do not need to add much water.
Dirt gets cleaned up
When you keep lentils in water for a long time, it removes dust and dirt. Also, pesticides are often used in food items. These harmful pesticides also get cleaned. In such a situation, consuming lentils is completely safe for you. Not only this, if you soak lentils in water, then grinding it in a mixer also becomes easy. Its paste is made easily. It can be very easy to make idli, dosa or any other dish.
Read this also: These 5 tricks can help you identify whether there are insects and seeds in brinjal or not, always keep these things in mind while buying it
Tags: eat healthy, Food, Health, Lifestyle
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 8, 2024, 14:01 IST
