RED LENTILS (MASOOR DAL)Health Benefits & Uses |
RECIPES WITH IT |
CREATE A RECIPE WITH IT |
COMPARE IT |
How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?
CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW
Recipes with Red Lentils (Masoor Dal): Red Lentil Dal
Red lentils are more Vata provoking than mung beans, harder to digest, and more drying. Traditional dals are heavily spiced and very thin. Thick lentil soups are generally too heavy for western digestive systems unaccustomed to legumes as a source of proteins.
Beans are the 'musical fruit' because they contain saponins to protect themselves against insects. Saponins form the sudsy foam on the surface of a cooking pot of beans. They prevent protein digestion resulting in stagnation and gas of the bowels.Buying & Preparation
Called Masoor Daal in Indian grocery stores.
Cooking Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)See Jumping on Beans for different ways to enjoy beans. Learn how to reduce gaseyness in beans.Browse Recipes
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Is Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?
Find out by taking this free, easy quiz.
You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)' is a good fit.
Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body. Take the Quiz
AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT
Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances.
With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you.
Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature.
By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health.
See How it Works.
SERVING SIZE: 1/4 c
Biocharacteristics of Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)
See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)
Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics
(gunas).
Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance.
By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick.
Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold).
You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.
Learn More
| DIFFICULT ABOUT DIFFICULT BIOCHARACTERISTIC
Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest.
LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFICULT DRY ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC
Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.
LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY HEAVY ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC
Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY COLD ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC
Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD | TASTES
The 6 Tastes
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food.
Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body.
Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food.
Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods.
Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion.
Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste.
One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes.
The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
Learn More
| ASTRINGENT ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC
Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT | DOSHAS
The Three Doshas / Body Types
According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine,
people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person.
Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness.
Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency.
Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses.
The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.
The 3 functional body types
(doshas),
are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry.
Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed.
Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.
Learn More
| | HAS THE FOLLOWING | Affinity: Bowel Poop Elimination Family: Fabaceae |
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Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.
High Fiber LaxativeSTRONG HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE
A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The large size of the stool stimulates peristalsis so the stool can pass more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydr
SEE ALL 'HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS , , Styptic STYPTIC
A herb that contracts tissue or blood vessels. Generally styptics are astringent. They are often used topically as a hemostatic to stop bleeding, or to reduce secretions.
SEE ALL 'STYPTIC' FOODS / HERBS Hypolipidemic HYPOLIPIDEMIC
Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.
SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS Constituents: Inositol INOSITOL
Inositol is an alcohol sugar made naturally in the human body from glucose. It is lipotropic (aiding fat metabilism in the liver). It affects a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, steroid, growth factors and water.
SEE ALL 'INOSITOL' FOODS / HERBS , Phytates PHYTATES
Phytates prevent absorption of nutrients. They are commonly found in all seeds, including nuts, grains, and beans. Sprouting greatly reduces phytate content, as well as long, slow cooking with vinegar.
SEE ALL 'PHYTATES' FOODS / HERBS , Protein, Saponin
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Foods with a Similar Nature to Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)
Chick Pea (Garbanzo)
Chick Pea (Garbanzo) has these Actions in Common
General-laxative, Nutritive, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic
LEARN MORE
Kidney Beans
Kidney Beans has these Actions in Common
Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach
LEARN MORE
Butter Bean
Butter Bean has these Actions in Common
Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach
LEARN MORE
Pinto Beans
Pinto Beans has these Actions in Common
Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach
LEARN MORE
White Navy Bean
White Navy Bean has these Actions in Common
General-laxative, Nutritive, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic
LEARN MORE
Fava Beans
Fava Beans has these Actions in Common
Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative
LEARN MORE
Black Beans
Black Beans has these Actions in Common
Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive
LEARN MORE
Split Peas
Split Peas has these Actions in Common
Constipative, Hypolipidemic, General-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Styptic
LEARN MORE
Brown Lentil
Brown Lentil has these Actions in Common
Appetite-suppressant, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, Constipative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach
LEARN MORE
Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal)
Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal) has these Actions in Common
General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic
LEARN MORE
Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)
Arjuna
Arjuna has these Actions in Common
Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, Appetite-suppressant
LEARN MORE
Agrimony
Agrimony has these Actions in Common
Appetite-suppressant, Constipative, Styptic
LEARN MORE
Vidari
Vidari has these Actions in Common
Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Nutritive
LEARN MORE
Amalaki
Amalaki has these Actions in Common
General-laxative, Nutritive, Styptic
LEARN MORE
How to Do a Home Enema Guidebook
How to Do a Home Enema Guidebook has these Actions in Common
General-laxative, High-fiber-laxative
LEARN MORE
Cleaning the Colon: Safe Enema at Home
Cleaning the Colon: Safe Enema at Home has these Actions in Common
General-laxative, High-fiber-laxative
LEARN MORE
Gymnema / Gurmar
Gymnema / Gurmar has these Actions in Common
Appetite-suppressant, Hypolipidemic
LEARN MORE
Psyllium Seed Fiber Supplement
Psyllium Seed Fiber Supplement has these Actions in Common
General-laxative, High-fiber-laxative
LEARN MORE
Sukumaram Ghrita
Sukumaram Ghrita has these Actions in Common
Nutritive, General-laxative
LEARN MORE
Bilva
Bilva has these Actions in Common
General-laxative, Styptic
LEARN MORE
Garcinia Cambogia Fruit
Garcinia Cambogia Fruit has these Actions in Common
Appetite-suppressant, Hypolipidemic
LEARN MORE
Impact of Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)
In each clinical research trial below, students from the
Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects.
See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.
TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your temperature?
0
|
10
|
13
|
4
|
1
| Much colder | Slightly colder | Same | Slightly warmer | Much warmer |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your sweat quantity?
0
|
1
|
22
|
5
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the color of your tongue body?
6
|
8
|
0
|
14
| Paler | Redder | Bluer | No Change |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your appetite/hunger?
9
|
12
|
5
|
0
|
2
| Much less hungry | Slightly less hungry | Same | Slightly hungrier | Much hungrier |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your digestion speed?
2
|
3
|
10
|
9
|
4
| Much faster | Slightly faster | Same | Slightly slower | Much slower |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
TOXINS
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the amount of gas & bloating?
1
|
2
|
7
|
14
|
4
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your stool smell?
2
|
3
|
11
|
12
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)Tongue: How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
0
|
5
|
15
|
7
|
1
| Much smaller | Slightly less | Same | Slightly larger coating | Much larger |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the color of your tongue coating?
0
|
3
|
3
|
8
|
14
| Yellower | Browner | Grayer | Whiter | No Change |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your urine smell?
1
|
2
|
20
|
4
|
1
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
0
|
0
|
22
|
6
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Many more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your sweat smell?
0
|
3
|
24
|
1
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
HYDRATION
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your urine frequency/quantity?
1
|
1
|
23
|
3
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the cracks on your tongue?
2
|
6
|
17
|
2
|
1
| Larger/longer/more cracks | Slightly more | Same | Slightly less/smaller/shorter | Much less |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
NERVOUS-SYSTEM
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your energy levels?
0
|
7
|
13
|
7
|
1
| Much less energy | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more energy | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your muscle tension?
0
|
6
|
14
|
7
|
1
| Much less tension | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more tension | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your anxiety?
4
|
5
|
16
|
3
|
0
| Much less anxiety | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more anxiety | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the stillness of your tongue?
5
|
22
|
1
| More still | No Change | More Trembling / Jittery |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
DIGESTION
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the amount of gas & bloating?
1
|
2
|
7
|
14
|
4
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your appetite/hunger?
9
|
12
|
5
|
0
|
2
| Much less hungry | Slightly less hungry | Same | Slightly hungrier | Much hungrier |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your digestion speed?
2
|
3
|
10
|
9
|
4
| Much faster | Slightly faster | Same | Slightly slower | Much slower |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
TONGUE
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the cracks on your tongue?
2
|
6
|
17
|
2
|
1
| Larger/longer/more cracks | Slightly more | Same | Slightly less/smaller/shorter | Much less |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)Tongue: How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
0
|
5
|
15
|
7
|
1
| Much smaller | Slightly less | Same | Slightly larger coating | Much larger |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the color of your tongue body?
6
|
8
|
0
|
14
| Paler | Redder | Bluer | No Change |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the stillness of your tongue?
5
|
22
|
1
| More still | No Change | More Trembling / Jittery |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the color of your tongue coating?
0
|
3
|
3
|
8
|
14
| Yellower | Browner | Grayer | Whiter | No Change |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
STOOL
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your stool smell?
2
|
3
|
11
|
12
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your stool consistency?
0
|
6
|
11
|
9
|
2
| Much softer | Slightly softer | Same | Slightly harder | Much harder |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your stool frequency/quantity?
4
|
7
|
12
|
4
|
1
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your stool color?
2
|
0
|
1
|
5
|
20
| More yellow | More gray | More green | More orange | Same |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your stool lightness?
0
|
8
|
20
|
0
|
0
| Much lighter | Slightly lighter | Same | Slightly darker | Much darker |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
URINE
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your urine smell?
1
|
2
|
20
|
4
|
1
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your urine lightness?
1
|
2
|
22
|
2
|
1
| Much lighter | Slightly lighter | Same | Slightly Darker | Much Darker |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your urine frequency/quantity?
1
|
1
|
23
|
3
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
0
|
0
|
22
|
6
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Many more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your urine clarity?
2
|
22
|
4
| More cloudy | Same | More clear |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
SWEAT
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your sweat smell?
0
|
3
|
24
|
1
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your sweat quantity?
0
|
1
|
22
|
5
|
0
| Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
SYSTEMIC
How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your muscle tension?
0
|
6
|
14
|
7
|
1
| Much less tension | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more tension | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your anxiety?
4
|
5
|
16
|
3
|
0
| Much less anxiety | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more anxiety | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your temperature?
0
|
10
|
13
|
4
|
1
| Much colder | Slightly colder | Same | Slightly warmer | Much warmer |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)How did Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) affect your energy levels?
0
|
7
|
13
|
7
|
1
| Much less energy | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more energy | Much more |
Total Responses: 28 Study ID:44 (2021-01-12 - 2021-02-27)
Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine. TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?
Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when
right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in
Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire
reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once
you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
Clinical Tools & Resources
Give smart recommendations to your clients and improve efficiency in your clinic with these tools.
About the Author
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a
healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics.
His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful.
John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda,
offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.
John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel,
as well as public service work in South Asia.
John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem.
His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion.
John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing.
In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots,
and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church.
Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick.
That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 6 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.
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