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Yellow Lentil (toor Dal) Benefits (According to Ayurveda)
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal): Ginger Dal
Recipes with Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal): Ginger Dal
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. Phytic acid, like sappoins, is a protective chemical that resides on the outside of the bean. Soaking Toor Dal overnight or even for 2 days removes most of the water soluble sapponins and phytic acid so that your body can absorb the protein.

They also have a high quantity of Omega 3 essential amino acids which help keep your joints lubricated and healthy.

Cooking Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal)

Toor Dal, also known as Pigeon Peas, are a staple in the Indian diet and are eaten many days of the week in Dal soups, or ground into flour used for dosas and idlis. Toor Dal is also a great choice of bean for Ayurvedas famous detoxifying dish, Kitchari.

See Jumping on Beans for different ways to enjoy beans. Learn how to reduce gaseyness in beans.

Learn about the health benefits of yellow lentil (toor dal) for FREE

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  • SERVING SIZE: 1/4 c
  • FAMILY: Fabaceae
  • SPECIES: Cajanus cajan
  • EAT IN: SUMMER

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Is Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal) Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Yellow Lentil (Toor 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.

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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.

Metabolic Nature of Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal)

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

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

DIFFICULT

ABOUT DIFFICULT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFICULT

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?

Find Out More

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Vata aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry metabolic nature. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other

Affinity:
Bowel Poop Elimination
Family:
Fabaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Yellow Lentil (Toor 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.

(see all)
Bowel Health:
High Fiber Laxative

STRONG 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

,
Constipative

CONSTIPATIVE

An herb that binds stools / stops diarrhea. When used in excess, these herbs and foods can cause constipation.

SEE ALL 'CONSTIPATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
General Laxative

MILD GENERAL-LAXATIVE

Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.

SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:
Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:
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

Weight Loss:
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,
Saponins

SAPONINS

Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal)

  • Kidney Beans

    Kidney Beans has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic

    LEARN MORE

  • Black Beans

    Black Beans has these Actions in Common

    High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Pinto Beans

    Pinto Beans has these Actions in Common

    Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach

    LEARN MORE

  • Butter Bean

    Butter Bean has these Actions in Common

    High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • White Navy Bean

    White Navy Bean has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic

    LEARN MORE

  • Chickpea (Garbanzo)

    Chickpea (Garbanzo) has these Actions in Common

    Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach

    LEARN MORE

  • Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)

    Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic

    LEARN MORE

  • Fava Beans

    Fava Beans has these Actions in Common

    High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Mung Bean

    Mung Bean has these Actions in Common

    High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Adzuki Beans

    Adzuki Beans has these Actions in Common

    High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal)

  • Arjuna

    Arjuna has these Actions in Common

    Styptic, Constipative, Hypolipidemic

    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

  • Cleaning the Colon: Safe Enema at Home

    Cleaning the Colon: Safe Enema at Home has these Actions in Common

    High-fiber-laxative, General-laxative

    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

  • 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

    General-laxative, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Bilva

    Bilva has these Actions in Common

    Styptic, General-laxative

    LEARN MORE

  • Raspberry Leaf Tea

    Raspberry Leaf Tea has these Actions in Common

    Constipative, Styptic

    LEARN MORE

  • Patola

    Patola has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Joint Balm

    Joint Balm has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Yellow Lentil (Toor 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.

  • Digestion

    Strong food cravings
    How does Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal) affect 'Strong food cravings'?
    IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME
    We will use this information to better predict food that helps you.
    Strong hunger
    How does Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal) affect 'Strong hunger'?
    IT FEELS BETTER IT FEELS WORSE IT FEELS THE SAME
    We will use this information to better predict food that helps you.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal) may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal). Please see your health care provider for more information.
  • Hypolipidemic: May magnify the effect of cholesterol lowering drugs.

View other ingredients
for Summer

Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal) is recommended for Summer. Check out these other Summer foods here.
VIEW ALL SUMMER FOODS MORE FOODS FOR PITTA / KAPHA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

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.
CONTINUE READING

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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

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