Toor Dal Health Benefits, Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Toor Dal Health Benefits: Toor dal, also known as Arhar dal, is an important legume crop, mainly used for edible seeds. It is an excellent source of various nutrients, including protein, complex carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.

In addition to its nutritional value, it has many health benefits. It is useful for people with diabetes as it helps lower the blood glucose level due to antioxidants' presence. It helps to lose weight by lowering cholesterol. According to Ayurveda, it is Grahi (absorbent) qualities in nature that helps in controlling Diarrhoea.

Due to its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. It has antimicrobial properties and helps in the treatment of skin infections.

Toor dal consumption is generally considered safe. However, it can cause allergies in some people.

What are the synonyms of toor dal?

Toor dal is known differently in different languages. In Tamil, it's known as Thuvaram paruppu. In Malayalam, it's known as Tuvara Parippu. In Kannada as Thogari Bele. In Hindi and Gujarati as Arhar ki Dal, and it's known as Kandipappu in Telegu.

What is the origin of the Toor Dal?

Toor dal is derived from plants. Hence its plant-based

Toor Dal Benefits

1. Helps in managing Diarrhoea

In Ayurveda, Diarrhoea, called Atisar, occurs mainly caused by improper diet, unclean water, toxins, stress, and Agnimandya (weak digestive fire). All of these factors contribute to the exacerbation of Vata Dosha. This increased gas brings fluid from various cells in the body to the intestines and mixes with the stool. It leads to loose, watery movements or Diarrhoea. Eating toor dal soup helps control Diarrhoea's symptoms by making the stool thick due to the Grahi (absorbent) properties.

Tips

1. Add water and cook the toor daal.

2. When properly cooked, pour in the beans and drain the liquid.

3. Add a pinch of salt.

4. Take once or twice a day for better treatment of Diarrhoea.

2. Helps in managing weight

Toor dals help in weight control when eaten regularly. This is due to its Laghu (light) nature. It helps remove Ama (toxic waste from the body due to impaired digestion) from the body, which is the leading cause of weight gain.

Tips

1. Drink 1/4 cup or take as needed.

2. Soak in water for 1-2 hours.

3. Cook for 10 minutes in a pressure cooker.

4. Add turmeric and salt to your taste.

5. Eat with bread for lunch or dinner.

3. Manages High Cholesterol

High cholesterol is mainly caused by an imbalance of green fire (digestive fire). Ama (toxic wastes in the body due to improper digestion) is produced due to poor digestion at the tissue level. It raises bad cholesterol and clogs blood vessels. Toor dal helps control cholesterol by improving Pachan Agni (digestive fire). This will help in removing Ama and clean the clogged containers. Therefore, it controls high cholesterol.

4. Drying of wounds

Toor dal leaves help dry out the wound, reduce inflammation, and restore the skin's typical structure. Applying a paste of toor dal leaves with coconut oil on the wound helps in faster healing and reduces inflammation due to its ropan (healing) property.

Tips

1. Take some fresh Toor dal leaves.

2. Make a paste with water or honey.

3. Apply this paste on the affected area once a day to promote faster healing of the wound.

5. Stomatitis

Stomatitis is a painful swelling inside the mouth. In Ayurveda, it is called Mukhapaka. It involves all three doshas (mainly pitta) that can cause bleeding in some cases. Chewing the fresh leaves of Toor dal improves the healing process and reduces inflammation due to its ropan (healing) properties.

Tips

1. Take some fresh leaves of Toor dal.

2. Rinse and chew once or twice a day to promote faster healing of Stomatitis.

How to use Toor Dal

1. Toor Dal

a. Soak 1-ట cup toor beans for 1 hour.

b. Place the beans in a pressure cooker and add 3 cups of water.

c. Add turmeric and salt to your taste.

2. Toor dal soup (dal ka pani)

a. Toor beans cook with plenty of water.

b. When properly cooked, pour in the beans and drain the liquid.

c. Add a pinch of salt and take it as the best source of nutrients for jaundice and Diarrhoea.

3. Toor dal paste

i. For baldness,

a. Soak the toor beans for 2 hours.

b. Crush the beans in a paste mortar.

c. Apply the paste evenly on the bald patches.

d. Leave for 1 hour.

e. Rinse well in tap water.

f. Use this medicine twice a week to control baldness.

ii. For swelling

a. Soak the toor beans for 2 hours.

b. Crush the beans in a paste form.

c. Apply the paste evenly on the affected area.

d. Use the paste twice a day to control swelling.

4. Toor dal leaves

i. Take some fresh leaves of Toor Dal.

ii. Make a paste with water or honey.

iii. Apply to the affected area once a day to promote wound healing.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q. Do you need to soak toor beans?

Ans. As per Modern Science, Toor dals should be soaked for 20 minutes. Soaking Toor dals before cooking reduces cooking time and enhances the taste of the dal.

Q. Are there too many carbohydrates in Toor Dal?

Ans. As per Modern Science, pigeon pea or Toor Dal is an excellent source of a fresh and dried form of protein and carbohydrates. It can also be used to make flour (atta) from it. Toor dal flour is an ideal ingredient in food products such as bread, pasta, and nutrient bars, making it a gluten-free alternative to whole grains.

Q. Does Toor Dal Have Protein?

Ans. According to Modern Science, Toor dal is an excellent source of inexpensive plant-based protein. Toor dal is usually cooked in sambar or boiled vegetables with green chilies, salt, and lemon.

Q. Is a Toor Dal suitable for people with diabetes?

Ans. As per modern science, Toor Dal is good for diabetes. It helps to increase insulin production and lower blood glucose levels. This is due to the presence of certain components that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Q. Is Toor dal good for cholesterol?

Ans. According to Modern Science, toor lentils are good for cholesterol. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. This reduces the risk of cholesterol-related problems.

Q. Does Toor dal play a role in Cancer?

Ans. As per Modern Science, Toor Dal can contribute to cancer management because it contains certain substances (such as cajanol) with antiproliferative properties. It inhibits cancer cells' growth and proliferation and can be used as a tool for cancer management. 

Q. Is Toor Dal Good for Weight Loss?

Ans. As per modern science, Toor Dal can help you lose weight as it has antioxidant properties. It helps in reducing the body's lipid level and weight control.

Q. Is Toor Dal good for managing uric acid?

Ans. As per modern science, Toor Dal can help lower uric acid levels. It contains certain substances (such as anthocyanins) that can cause a decrease in uric acid levels. Decreased uric acid in the body prevents gout and arthritis-related inflammation.

Q. Is Toor Bean Good for Constipation?

Ans. As per Modern Science, Toor dal leaf juice is good for constipation because it has nutritional value. It helps with bowel movements and promotes more comfortable bowel movements.

Q. Is Toor Dal Good for dealing with Acidity?

Ans. There is not sufficient scientific evidence regarding the role of toor dal in managing Acidity.

Q. Is Toor Dal good for gastritis?

Ans. There is insufficient scientific evidence regarding the role of toor berries in scientific modern science view gastritis. As per the Ayurvedic view, Yes, Toor Dal is useful for managing gastritis. It helps to improve digestion due to log (light).

Q. Can Toor dal be used in Stomatitis?

Ans. According to modern science, Toor dal leaves help with Stomatitis due to their astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains some ingredients that can help reduce Stomatitis related to inflammation.

Q. Can Diabetics consume Toor Dal?

Ans. As per modern science, Dals usually have a low glycemic index (GI). The glycemic index is a value given based on how slowly or rapidly their diet causes their blood glucose levels to rise. Patients with diabetes are advised to eat a low GI diet. The gradual and steady release of glucose in low glycemic foods, including Toor dals, can help maintain glucose control.

Q. Can Toor dal be digested easily?

Q. Can Toor dal cause gas?

Q. Can we soak raw Toor dal?

Q16. Can I apply Toor dal on my hair?

Tips: To control hair loss, apply toor dal or Toor dal leaves with rose water on the scalp.

Q. Can I use Toor dal on wounds?