Health Benefits

Legumes of all kinds provide robust nutritional benefits for societies around the world, but some beans definitely provide more nutrients and minerals than others. While people may differ on their preferences of which beans they like best, science can tell us definitively which legume has the highest nutritional content and provides our bodies with the most benefits. In this article, we are going to compare the nutritional data of black beans (a common and popular legume) to that of black gram, and see which comes out on top in terms of nutrient density and health benefits. Are you ready to … Read more

Infections are a fact of life. From viruses like the flu or COVID-19, to bacterial and fungal infections, it is nearly impossible to avoid contact with various pathogens and microorganisms in the world around us that may cause infection. Even so, getting an infection and/or contracting an illness or a disease from a viral, bacterial, fungal, or other infection is something we would like to avoid if at all possible. And, though living with microorganisms is a fact of life, by keeping our bodies healthy we may be able to prevent many infections and their most debilitating effects. In striving to … Read more

Breastfeeding has been gaining in popularity in the last few decades, and more and more women are choosing to breastfeed their babies.  As science continues to reveal how important it is for newborns to receive this “liquid gold” (breast milk) from their mother, we can also understand more clearly what the best nutrients are to support mothers as they begin and continue the journey of breastfeeding. Did you know that black gram is a great choice for lactating mothers? That’s right! We’re going to look at some of the most important dietary factors that support a mother’s milk supply, and then we’ll show how black gram provides many … Read more

Lentils have a rich history of sustaining mankind through the centuries, and they are indeed among the oldest legumes known to civilized man. In fact, lentils are even mentioned in the book of Genesis in the famous story of Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of Jacob’s lentil stew. There are also quite a few references to masha (black gram lentils) in ancient Indian medicinal writings. Lentils are one of nature’s most health-promoting foods, as they can help support cardiovascular health, digestive health, as well as balance hormones, boost energy, and much more. Lentils also contain antioxidants that fight aging and cell damage. Many different types of … Read more

The Glycemic Index Our bodies digest different types of food faster or slower depending on the type and amount of carbohydrates that a certain food contains. Foods with carbohydrates that break down quickly and thus are digested quickly cause our blood sugar to spike; whereas foods with carbohydrates that break down more slowly will slow the process of digestion, creating a more steady and prolonged absorption of the food’s nutrients, and thereby keeping our blood sugar at proper level.  This effect on the blood sugar levels of different types of foods is ranked by the glycemic index (GI), and foods range from zero … Read more

From the rich heritage of South Asian cuisine comes an incredible legume known as black gram. This warm-season lentil crop has maintained a place of honor in traditional Indian medicinal practice for thousands of years, and modern science is now discovering why. Let’s take a closer look at black gram and discover why this superfood is gaining popularity across the globe. Black Gram Basics Every year, over 3.2 million tons of black gram are sold in the global market, and the number is growing! Also known as urad, masha, Vigna mungo, and a variety of other names, black gram is a plant highly … Read more