We all know that eating a balanced diet is essential for our wellbeing, it is a fact that we need different types of nutrients such carbohydrates, fats, protein and vitamins to aid in the proper functioning of the human body.

Unfortunately, most people do not realise that the lack of protein which is needed for keeping and renewing the body tissues, retaining iron and calcium to keep the bones strong is missing in our diet and is dangerous to our health, studies have shown that more than 70% of Indians follow a diet that does not meet the daily protein requirements.

A good way to overcome this lack of protein in the diet is to include dal or pulses in your diet, it contains not just vitamins and minerals, it is one of the best sources of protein for the body.

Most of us are familiar with the different types of dal such as moong, toor, masoor dal etc. which are not just a good source of protein, they have a good taste and flavor and are easy to prepare depending upon your dietary requirements.

There are many reasons why dal needs to be a part of your diet, here are some of the ways, dal can make you healthier:

A) Dal is a plant based source of protein and fiber that helps in keeping the body energetic and healthy, it makes it easier to keep your muscles, skin, hair and blood to be in good shape.

B) Research has proved that eating dal helps in improving digestion, it contains potassium which keeps a check on heart problems.

C) Those of us who eat a diet that are rich in fats and cholesterol, dal is a good alternative to replace such a unhealthy diet because dal is low in fat and cholesterol which reduces the risk of heart disease.

D) Eating food that contains too much salt is a major cause of death which can be avoided by eating dal because they do not contain salt and prevent sudden rapid changes in blood pressure that can be harmful to your health.

E) Our body needs protein for keeping our muscles fit and healthy, this is achieved by eating dal because it is a rich source of protein that also helps in improving muscle growth and keeping your weight under control.

F) We live in a time of extreme climate change and this is where dal can make a difference because they are good for the environment as they are a crop that is sustainable and can be grown without the need to use fertilizers, it helps to maintain the nitrogen level in the air and they require less water to grow as compared to other crops.

Dal is a part of the daily diet in India, with a vegetarian diet being followed across the country, unfortunately we find it difficult to meet the needs of the people because of the rapid growth of population and farmers finding it difficult to maximize their profits.

In the end, dal is not just about protein, it is about staying healthy and being able to achieve food security and being self sufficient.