7 Green Gram Benefits, Nutrition and Protein per 100 gms in Moong Dal

Green gram, often known by the name mung dal, does not need an introduction in India. It is one of the most consumed dal. We cherish it as namkeen, eat it with rice or roti, and even turn it into spicy cheelas. 

While its protein content is well-known, numerous health benefits often go unnoticed beyond its familiar flavors. But we won’t let it happen here.

We’ll discuss everything green here – green gram benefits, its nature, its history and names, and a few fun facts. Let’s get going green. 

Know Your Green Gram – History, Names, and Nutrition

Green gram is native to India. As far as the evidence suggests, it was domesticated here some 4,500 years back. Harappans were the first ones to embrace it and utilise it. From there, the road took these lentils to China, Thailand, and other nearby lands. 

In India, green gram is usually known as mung dal. However, there are other local names too that you must know. After all, you can’t go to Karnataka and get things working with the word ‘mung’. 

Green Gram Names in Different Indian Languages

Usually, you’ll find 3 types of mung dal in the market. 

• Whole Green Gram / whole mung (Saboot Mung)
• Split Green Gram / Split mung (Mung Chilka)
• Split green gram – dehusked (Mung Dhuli)

When it comes to taste, green gram holds very subtle hints of nutty and sweet flavours. It is easy to cook and light to digest. 

Now, let’s do some nutrition talk. 

Green gram benefits our health through not just protein but numerous other nutrients that hide within its hard shell. All three types of green gram usually offer the same amount of nutrients except for fibre, which gets removed during the dehusking process. 

Green Gram Whole (Moong Dal) Nutritional Benefits (per 100 grams) ^[1]

As we see, it has a rich nutrition profile. But what do these nutrients mean to our health? Let’s understand this through all the green gram benefits. 

Green Gram (Moong Dal) list of Benefits 

1. Contains High Amounts of Antioxidants

Mung beans stay soaked in good amounts of antioxidants. It contains vicilin protein, which contains numerous antioxidant compounds known to be beneficial for humans. ^[2]

Although antioxidants are mainly marketed as beneficial for the skin, their benefits fare far and well. Here is how:

• Antioxidants protect our cells from the harmful free radicals that try to knock them down and kill them. When cells get prevented, organs stay safe and life’s quality gets enhanced and melodious
• Antioxidants are also known to reduce inflammation, which, although a defense mechanism, can cause harm and pain when chronic
• Furthermore, the antioxidants found in vicilin protein are also potent enough to bring down blood pressure

Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can protect your heart ^[3]

Brain health, skin health, eye health, the benefits are many. This is why nutritionists and doctors often recommend embracing a diet rich in antioxidants. It can truly enhance your health and increase your lifespan. 

2. Can Help You Beat The Heat

Indian summers are infamous for their scorching heat. The temperature gets brutally high, reaching 50°s, and sometimes, it even leaps this tough bar. This calls for a diet with cooling effects. Green gram is alkaline in nature, which helps maintain the body’s pH balance and promote overall health and well-being. Consuming alkaline foods like green gram can also reduce symptoms of acid reflux, which high temperatures can exacerbate. Green gram also benefits us in heat by managing our body temperature. 

In Ayurveda, green gram is considered ‘Laghu’ (easy to digest) and having a cooling nature

Excessive heat can cause heat strokes, which can be life-threatening. But mung dal can help.

Firstly, green gram contains strong anti-inflammatory properties, which hold protective potential against heat strokes, thirst, high body temperatures, etc. ^[4]

Secondly, it contains vitexin and isovitexin, antioxidants known for protecting our cells from damage from free radicals during heat. ^[5]

Lastly, mung dal is easy to digest and is alkaline, which helps in digestion and acid reflux. 

3. Light, Easy, and Helpful For Heart

Among the many causes behind rising heart diseases these days, one is excessive cholesterol and obesity. These two are intertwined and are known to block blood vessels. 

Green gram benefits the heart by reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) in our bodies. Also, because it is easy to digest, weight stays under control. This again helps the heart stay joyful.

Numerous studies have shown that consuming lentils regularly is a healthier choice. It can bring down bad cholesterol. ^[6]

However, to bring the heart to a healthier state, one must always work on changing the overall diet and lifestyle. This includes:

• Proper hydration
• Enough physical activity (150 minutes per week)
• A BIG NO to deep-fried, highly spicy, and fast foods. 
• Stress relieving activities – yoga, meditation, mindfulness, etc.

4. A Boon For Blood Pressure

Most of us do not look at blood pressure with much seriousness. But blood pressure imbalance is a much more serious thing that deserves attention. High or low blood pressure can weaken your blood vessels and might cause serious damage. 

If you sail your boat through high or low blood pressure, green gram can be beneficial for you. It contains good amounts of

• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Fibre

All these three nutrients are known to leash down blood pressure. How? ^[7]

Magnesium relaxes blood vessels, making blood flow easier. Potassium helps remove excess sodium, which in turn reduces blood volume and pressure. Soluble fibre improves the health of blood vessel linings, keeps them flexible, and lowers cholesterol.

Several studies have linked the intake of legumes to balanced blood pressure. ^[8]

5. Helps In Digestion

Mung dal is one of the most easily digestible lentils around the world. Despite its high protein content, it comes light and cool on the digestive system. The carbs it contains do not cause flatulence or indigestion as compared to other lentils. ^[9]

Also, green gram contains high amounts of fibre, nearly 17 whopping grams in 100 grams. This is around 56% of the daily fibre requirement. It especially contains Pectin, a type of soluble fibre that has been found to be brilliant for gut health. ^[10]

WHO recommends consuming at least 25-30 grams of fibre per day ^[11]

But why is fibre important? 

Fibre boosts digestive health by inducing regular motions and keeping constipation away. Furthermore, fibre acts as food for our good gut bacteria. When they eat well, they work well, and when they work well, we feel energetic. 

6. May Bring Down Blood Sugar

Just as how blood pressure can be dangerous, an imbalance in blood sugar can be equally harmful. High blood sugar can not only cause obesity, it can even cause fatigue, damage eyes and organs, stiffen blood vessels, and many more foul things if left untreated. 

Green gram benefits in blood sugar in numerous ways. For example

• Its high protein content is known to release sugar in the bloodstream at a much slower rate
• Vitexin and isovitexin, the antioxidants gram contains, are known to balance blood sugar by acting on insulin

Numerous studies have found mung beans to be brilliant at controlling blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, and reducing triglyceride levels. ^{[12] [13]}

7 – Good For Pregnancy

Most women don’t get enough folate, which is a must during pregnancy. A lack of folate may lead to birth defects. ^[14]

Mung bean can be beneficial in terms of folate. It has good folate content. 100 grams of boiled mung beans can easily provide around 160mcg – almost 50% of the RDA. Not just this – green gram also benefits pregnant women through its rich ^[15]

• Protein content
• Iron content
• Vitamin B 
• And iron content

As we see, green gram benefits our overall health and is a true gem. However, it must also be cooked more healthily. This preserves the nutrients that get damaged during frying. 

The best way to get all the mung dal benefits is to sprout it and add it to salads. Or you may simply boil it and consume it. There are many recipes that are based on boiled green gram.

The Bottom Line

Green gram, or mung dal (as it is called in India), is a much-loved lentil. It has been used since ancient times due to its light nature. For this very reason, it is cherished during summer due to its cooling potency.

Despite being one of the most protein-rich lentils (almost 23 grams per 100 grams), it is easily digestible and doesn’t cause flatulence. Furthermore, it is rich in antioxidants, can bring down blood pressure, help with sugar control, and is rich in folate too. This makes it a brilliant addition during pregnancy. 

However, if you are planning to consume green grams every day, consult with a nutritionist. 

So, are you ready to cherish this green beauty (or golden when split)? 

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