Pulses and Legumes Keep the Heart Healthy, Ayurveda Highlights Remarkable Benefits

New Delhi

With lifestyle disorders such as diabetes, thyroid imbalance, and heart disease increasingly affecting young people, health experts are emphasizing the importance of dietary changes. According to Ayurveda, many lifestyle-related illnesses can be prevented through simple, wholesome foods available in the kitchen — particularly pulses and legumes.

Stress, irregular sleep, excessive consumption of processed foods, and high sugar intake are considered major contributors to heart ailments. Ayurveda attributes heart-related diseases to stress and the accumulation of “ama” (toxins) in the body. Poor dietary habits and mental strain negatively impact both the heart and brain, contributing to rising cardiovascular cases across age groups.

Among recommended dietary staples, pulses and legumes are considered highly beneficial for heart health. A regular part of the Indian diet, dals are known to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. They are rich in soluble fiber, which helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in the body.

Since the human body naturally produces cholesterol, excessive intake through diet can lead to elevated levels, putting pressure on blood vessels. This strain may impair the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, potentially causing breathlessness, palpitations, and other cardiac complications.

Pulses and legumes also have a low glycemic index, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and manage blood pressure — both crucial factors in maintaining cardiovascular health.

While most dals offer nutritional benefits, Ayurveda and nutrition experts suggest that heart patients or those seeking prevention may particularly benefit from consuming black-eyed peas (lobia), masoor (red lentils), rajma (kidney beans), moong dal, chickpeas, and moth beans.

In addition to pulses, incorporating salads, soups, fiber-rich vegetables, and brown rice into daily meals is recommended. Brown rice contains antioxidants and compounds believed to have anti-cancer properties, further supporting overall health.

Health experts continue to stress that balanced nutrition, along with lifestyle modifications, plays a key role in preventing chronic diseases and keeping the heart healthy.

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