Legumes are among the most nutritious foods which are highly nutritious and packed with B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and potassium – which boost your digestion and aid a healthy weight loss.
Lentils are made up of more than 25 per cent protein, which makes them an excellent meat alternative.
Dals are a great source of iron – a mineral that is sometimes lacking in vegetarian diets.
Arhar dal or the yellow pigeon pea lentil is among the most consumed dal in India, cooked with different recipes and ingredients.
Being high in fibre, arhar dal is super delicious when paired with rice, or even roti, but can even have unpleasant side effects if consumed too much. According to experts, overeating arhar dal in some people causes an imbalance in digestion.
Side effects of arhar dal
Uric acid
Experts say in general dals are highly nutritious and do not trigger uric acid levels, but for those dealing with kidney problems, it can be a red flag.
According to doctors, those who are sensitive to purines – a compound found in dals can face issues due to metabolized uric acid.
Studies say uric acid crystals can form kidney stones, which are extremely painful and can hurt the kidneys by blocking the organ from removing wastes causing infection, and scarring the kidneys with their sharp edges. 1
Digestive allergies
Eating too much arhar dal, especially at night can also cause digestive issues in many people. Dals are packed with fibre, which leads to gas and acidity problems in the stomach.
According to nutritionists, arhar should be eaten during the daytime when the body’s digestion is more active. It then allows for better breakdown and assimilation of nutrients.
It is best to start with smaller portions and gradually increase the amount to allow your body to adjust.
Can worsen your piles
If you suffer from piles or hemorrhoids – enlarged blood vessels that you can get inside or around your anus, you must not eat too much arhar dal.
According to studies, if have piles your digestive system has to work very hard to digest the protein present in it, due to which the problem of constipation starts, and due to poor motion in the morning, your condition would worsen. 2
Hyperkalemia
Lentils are a great source of potassium, however, too much in the diet can cause hyperkalemia – a condition in which plasma potassium levels above the upper limits of normal go usually greater than 5.0 mEq/L to 5.5 mEq/L.
While mild hyperkalemia is usually asymptomatic, high potassium levels may cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, muscle weakness, or paralysis. 3
A few symptoms of the condition include vomiting, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, and difficulty breathing, especially in people with poor kidney function.
