Detox Delight!
When your body’s fighting off an illness and feeling weak, sometimes you just don’t feel like eating at all. Even the idea of food can be unappealing, and after a while, you get tired of forcing down plain cereal or rice porridge. That’s when mung bean porridge comes in. It is easy to swallow, with gentle yet pleasantly roasted flavor that isn’t bland, and it’s packed with nutrients to help nourish your body.
Mung bean promotes detoxification by binding to and helping the body excrete toxins like heavy metals and pesticides, a process supported by its high levels of polyphenols and fiber. Its antioxidant properties, ability to clear body heat and inflammation, and potential to improve liver function further contribute to its detoxifying effects, with these benefits being amplified when green gram is sprouted.
Mung beans are highly beneficial for chronic diseases due to their rich nutritional profile and bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, and peptides. Regular consumption may help manage and prevent conditions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers.
13 Health Benefits of Green Gram (Mung Bean):
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: Mung beans contribute to heart health through several mechanisms:
- Lowers cholesterol: They are rich in soluble fiber and antioxidants that help reduce total and “bad” LDL cholesterol levels.
- Reduces blood pressure: Mung beans are a source of potassium, magnesium, and fiber, nutrients that help regulate blood pressure. Bioactive peptides in mung beans can also inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which helps relax blood vessels.
- Protects blood vessels: The flavonoids vitexin and isovitexin prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, a key step in the formation of arterial plaque. This also protects the endothelial function of blood vessels.
DIABETES AND BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL: The low glycemic index of mung beans makes them an excellent food for managing blood sugar levels and preventing type 2 diabetes.
- Slows sugar absorption: The high fiber and protein content slows the release of sugar into the bloodstream after a meal.
- Improves insulin sensitivity: Antioxidants like vitexin and isovitexin may help insulin work more effectively.
- Reduces inflammation: Mung bean consumption can reduce the levels of inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and TNF-α, which are associated with insulin resistance.
CANCER PREVENTION: Mung beans’ antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help protect against certain types of cancer.
- Fights free radicals: The high antioxidant content helps protect cellular DNA from free radical damage, which can lead to cancer.
- Inhibits cancer cell growth: Test-tube studies have shown that mung bean extracts can help inhibit the growth of liver and cervical cancer cells.
- Supports gut health: The resistant starch and fiber in mung beans produce butyrate in the colon, which has been shown to protect against colon cancer.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS: Chronic inflammation is a root cause of many chronic diseases, and mung beans contain several compounds that help combat it.
- Regulates cytokines: Animal studies show that mung bean extracts can lower levels of inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α.
- Boosts immune response: Mung bean protein hydrolysates and extracts have demonstrated immunomodulatory effects, strengthening the body’s natural defense against chronic diseases.
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND OBESITY: Because obesity is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, mung beans’ role in weight management is also a key benefit.
- Increases satiety: The high fiber and protein content promotes a feeling of fullness, which can help reduce overall calorie intake and aid in weight loss.
- Decreases fat accumulation: Animal studies suggest that mung bean extracts can help reduce fat accumulation in muscle tissue by inhibiting the formation of new fat cells.
Overall summary of benefits:
Mung beans’ role in combating chronic diseases is a result of their synergistic health effects. By improving glycemic control, enhancing lipid profiles, boosting antioxidant defenses, and fighting inflammation, they offer a comprehensive and natural way to support overall health and longevity.
Ingredients
- mung beans – 200g
- sticky rice – 80g
- sea salt – ½ tsp
Prep & Cooking:
- Prep:
- soak mung beans in water, leave it overnight for the best results
- wash mung beans with hands to skin off the beans
- soak sticky rice in water for 30 minutes
- Cooking:
- Coarsely grind mung beans in a blender with a cup of water. TIP> Finely grind for easier swallow. I prefer a bit of texture.
- Add ground mung beans, soaked rice, and add 2-½ cups of additional water in a pot.
- Once it boils, turn the heat down to medium low.
- Stir to prevent sticking to the pot.
- Skim foam.
- Simmer until rice and mung beans are soft.
- Add salt to taste.
