Why do lentils provide structural support for the body?
By Baldmichael Theresoluteprotector’sson
Why, well they are high in protein, about 9% when boiled in water according to Wikipedia. See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lentil
However, about 24g per 100g seems about the dry protein weight according to this site.
https://www.eatthismuch.com/calories/lentils-3634?a=0.5208333333333334:0
They compare favourable to nuts where peanuts are the highest at 26g per 100g. See
https://vegfaqs.com/protein-in-nuts/
But well above pecans and macadamia nuts at 9.2 and 7.9g per 100g respectively.
I think of macadamia nuts as academia nuts. Perhaps the relative low protein levels in the nuts are why the academic variety doesn’t provide as much support as we would like!
Lentils are a basic food stuff in some countries, especially India with their dal or dahl. I have enjoyed eating them that way and making my own at times with a vegetable curry and brown rice, very satisfying.
The curry recipes I have used came from a book ‘The Best of Sainsbury’s Wholefood Cooking’ which I have had since the late 1980’s. It does another good lentil recipe, an aubergine and lentil moussaka with a yoghurt and egg top.
Lentils are excellent in stews and soups, and I have always enjoyed them with a bacon stock, although nowadays I am very wary of the bacon due to the nitrite and nitrosamine issue – see my post on sodium nitrite, link at the end.
Anyway, you can look up more about them if you wish.
As regards structural support, the role of protein in the body is well documented. Here is a BBC food link (yes the BBC does have sensible articles!).
The top 5 high protein plant-based foods recommended by a dietitian
Published November 2024
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/high_protein_plant_based_ingredients
As it says
Protein provides structural support for all the body’s cells and helps maintain and repair tissues like bones, skin and muscles.
Of course being protein which sounds like ‘pro-teen’ perhaps this is why teenagers need it especially for their development!
https://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/articles/fuelling-growth-essential-nutrition-for-teenagers
In any event, support of all kinds is necessary for everybody, let alone teenagers.
Which is why perhaps ‘lentils’ will anagram to this one word
- lintels
Which provide support to buildings. As the body has been spoken of as the temple it makes sense. So why not give lentils a go if you haven’t and get some lentil support.
P.S. here are the articles I refer to if you haven’t seen.
Sodium nitrite (E250) – the poison in your food and how to remedy it.
Baldmichael Theresoluteprotector’sson. When not posting pages or paging posties, trying to be a good husband, and getting over a long term health issue, I am putting the world to rights. I have nothing better to do, so why not? But of course that includes dancing, being funny (in more than one sense), poking fun at life, poking fun at myself, deflating the pompous, reflating the sad. Seeking to heal the whole of the soul (and body where possible). In short making life as good as it possibly can be for others as well as myself. You can’t say fairer than that. But if you can, please say. People need to know.
Hilarious and Leguminating. The ideal fuel for the fast before Easter — nourishing body, soul, and preventing you from becoming Lent-ill.
Bizarre coincidence. A couple of hours ago I watched a short of Would I Lie To You outtakes and there's some merriment over academia and macadamia - it's 30s in.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zeMrzyRErK4