Black Gram/urad - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

Black Gram/urad

Black gram originated in South Asia, where it has been in cultivation from ancient times and is one of the most highly prized pulses of India. It is very widely used in Indian cuisine. In India the Black gram is one of the important pulses grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons. It possess Antioxidant emollient, thermogenic, diuretic, aphrodisiac, nutritious, galactogauge, appetizer, laxative, styptic properties.

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It has different names in different languages such as English Name(Black gram, Mungo bean, Urad bean),  Marathi Name (Urad dal),   Hindi Name(Udad, Udid, Urad, Urid, Urdi),  Sanskrit Name(Masha),  Gujarati Name(Adad, Alad),  Bengali Name(Masha kalaay, Mashkalai dal),  Tamil Name(Ulundu, Uluntu),  Telugu Name(Uttulu, Minumulu),  Kannada Name(Uddu, Uddina Bhele),  Malayalam Name(Uzunu),  Punjabi Name(Daal maash),  Assamese Name(matimah, matikolai),  Nepali Name(Maas)

Part of plant Used

Seeds, Roots

Vitamin and Mineral content

Vitamins : B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9

Minerals : Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc

• Black gram is very nutritious as it contains high levels of protein (25g/100g), potassium (983 mg/100g), calcium (138 mg/100g), iron (7.57 mg/100g), niacin (1.447 mg/100g), Thiamine (0.273 mg/100g), and riboflavin (0.254 mg/100g).

• Black gram complements the essential amino acids provided in most cereals and plays an important role in the diets of the people of Nepal and India. Black gram is also very high in folate (628µg/100g raw, 216µg/100g cooked).

• It has been also proposed that pulses contain a wide variety of non-nutritive bioactive  components such as enzyme inhibitors, phytic acid, lectins, phytosterols, phenolic compounds and saponins.

• List of compounds  which  form  during  fermentation  of cereals

• Alcohols : Ethanol, Amyl and Isoamyl alcohol, Isobutanol, n-Propanol
• Aldehydes  and  Ketones : Acetone,  Butanone,  Acetaldehyde,  Acetoin,  Diacetyl,  Formaldehyde, n-Hexaldehyde, Methyl ethyl ketone
• Organic  Acids :  Palmitic,  Acetic,  Benzoic,  Butyric,  Caproic,  Caprylic,  Formic,  Isobutyric,  Lactic, Lauric, Myristic, Palmitic, Propionic, Succinic, Valeric,Pelargonic
• Carbonyl Compounds : Furfural, Glycoxal, Methional, Hydroxymethyl-furfural, 3-Methyl butanol.

Properties and Benefits

• Guru – Heavy to digest
• Taste conversion after digestion – Sweet
• Virya (potency) – Hot (ushna)
• Effects on Tridosha – Balances Vata dosha but Increases Kapha and Pitta dosha
•            Click here for more information Tridosha (vata-Kapha-Pitta)
• Sara – Causes intestinal movements
• Snigdha –   Unctuous(oily)
• Ruchya – Improves taste
• Sramsana – Causes mild purgation
• Tarpana – Nourishes
• Balya – Promotes physical strength
• Shukrala – Increases sperm count
• Brumhana – Promotes bulk of tissues
• Bhinna Mutra mala – Excretes urine and feces
• Sthanyo – Enhances breast milk
• Medhah pitta kaphapradah – Increases Fat, Pitta and Kapha dosha
• Mamsabala pradah – Increases muscle bulk and strength
• Raktha pitta prakopana – Vitiates blood tissue and pitta dosha
• Energizer, aphrodisiac, appetizer, Hot in nature, nutritive, heavy to digest.spermatogenic, laxative, diuretic, galactogogue

Indian cookery

Vigna mungo is popular in Northern India, largely used to make dal from the whole or split, dehusked seeds. The bean is boiled and eaten whole or, after splitting, made into dal; prepared like this it has an unusual mucilaginous texture.

It is also extensively used in South Indian culinary medication. Black gram is one of the crucial ingredients in making idli and dosa batter, in which one part of black gram is mixed with three or four parts of idli rice to make the batter. udid vada also contain black gram and are made from soaked batter and deep-fried in cooking oil. The dough is also used in making papadum, in which white lentils are generally used.

It is very popular in Punjabi cookery as an component of dal makhani. In Bengal, it is used in biulir dal. In Rajasthan, It is used to prepare dal which is generally consumed with bati.

Uses, Benefits, Remadies and Application

1) As per the Nighantus, Masha (black gram) is one among the 4 substances that increases kapha and pitta – Black gram, Curds, Fish and Brinjal.

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2) Roots of blackgram are Narcotic and Diuretic in action. 

                - Roots are used in the treatment of abscess, pain related bones, oedema, headache and inflammation.

3) Urad dal helps in controlling wrinkles and increases moisture content in the skin because of its Snigdha (oily) nature. Urad dal also removes black spot and wrinkles on the skin when used along with with honey.

4) A massage with Urad dal and sesame oil paste helps to reduce joint pain due to its Vata balancing property.

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5) The seeds are emollient, astringent, thermogenic, diuretic, aphrodisiac, nutritious, galactogauge, appetizer, laxative, styptic and nervine tonic. They are useful in treating scabies, leucoderma, gonorrhea, pains, epistaxis, piles, asthma, heart trouble, dyspepsia, anorexia, strangury, constipation, haemorrhoids, hepatopathy, neuropathy, agalactia, schizophrenia, hysteria, nervous debility, partial paralysis, facial paralysis and weakness of memory.

6) Black gram is one among the adjuvants of sweating treatment.

7) In medieval India, this bean is said to have been used in making crucibles impermeable.

8) As urad beans contain some amount of all essential amino acids, the protein found in these beans is considered to be of high quality. The only essential amino acid black gram beans have a relative lack of is methionine. Of the non-essential amino acids, black gram beans are rich in glutamic and aspartic acids.

9) As it contain very high levels of iron, which is really good at increasing the overall energy levels in your body. Iron is an extremely important nutrient for your body as it stimulates the production of red blood cells. These cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to all your organs.

                 - When your organs get high levels of oxygen, it improves the overall energy in your body. Iron also prevents anemia an ppd some of the symptoms of anemia such as fatigue, weakness, and even cognitive weakness.

10) Black gram helps to lower down the cholesterol and triglycerides in the serum, liver and aorta.

11) Saponins are phytochemicals found in black gram pulses that are also said to have antidiabetic effects.

12) Black gram is also extremely good for your heart health. As it has high quantities of fiber, magnesium, and potassium, it is known to provide multiple benefits that can keep your cardiovascular system healthy. 

13) Seeds are used for lengthening the hair, keeps them black and curing dandruff. 

14) To improve a vata imbalance, black gram can be eaten in curries with spices. 

15) For pitta imbalance, cooling foods and foods with a bitter or astringent taste are suggested.

16) For Kapha imbalance, people should eat small meals of spiced foods, which helps in cutting down oil, fats, and sweets.

17) It is good for skin and help to fight dark spots, acne, and marks. It helps with joint pain, is extremely good for the heart, and is also a diuretic that helps keep your body clean.

              - As it is extremely rich in minerals and vitamins, it is great for reducing any inflammation on skin. It can also help get rid of marks and spots, bring more oxygenated blood towards your skin to make it look radiant and glowing, and also helps with healing and exfoliating your skin. With this it can help you get rid of tans, heal sunburns, and lessen your acne. 

18) Black gram flour is fried with ghee and added to sugar syrup or jaggery syrup. Then it is rolled into laddoo and stored. This is taken daily in winter season as to strengthen the body and to overcome the cold. This is a winter season special strengthening sweet in Gujarat and Maharashtra. 

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19) In Vata disorders like arthritis, joint pain, fatigue etc, the decoction prepared from Black gram is beneficial.

20) High fiber foods are often recommended to diabetics as it helps by regulating the amount of nutrients that’s absorbed by the digestive tract. As a result, Black gram help to maintain  blood sugar and glucose levels, making your diabetes much more manageable. It prevents dramatic drops and spikes in the sugar levels as well.

21) One of the biggest perks of consuming black gram is that it has high quantities of dietary fiber. This bulks up the stool in the digestive tract and stimulates peristalsis, the contraction and release of stomach muscles to move the waste materials out.

                 - if you are suffering from any digestive issues such as diarrhea, constipation, cramps, or bloating, black grams can certainly be a good addition to your diet in order to help you out. It also helps you optimize the nutrient absorption in your body.

22) Roots of Masha is used to cure problems related to bones and in lack of sleep.

23) Black grams is that it is a diuretic(stimulations urination). Due to this property body can get rid of harmful toxins, ureic acid, excess water, excess fat, and even calcium stored in the kidneys. 

24) Its seeds may be eaten raw, roasted, parched or boiled in split form. 

25) Fried seeds of black gram are made into fine powder. This is consumed along with sour butter milk. This improves the bulk of the stool. Those who are suffering from improper bowel habit and irregular passage of the stool.

26) Applying the paste of Urad dal along with rose water and honey on the face helps promote skin whitening as it reduces melanin production and promotes skin health. Urad dal hair mask can be applied on the hair scalp to help strengthen and lengthen hair as well as manage dandruff.

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27) Hot aqueous extracts of black gram leaves are used as remedy in diseases related to brain, stomach, jaundice, rheumatic pain and inflammatory disorders.

28) To stop bleeding, orifice of wound should be smeared with powder of Priyangu, Licorice, Black gram etc.

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29) Avoid eating Urad dal in excess at night as it takes a longer time to get digested properly.

30) Indigestion caused by black gram is treated by Purified belladonna seeds, sugar candy, Buttermilk, Neem root decoction and spice mixture.

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31) Flour of mungo beans is used as excellent skin detox, makes the skin smooth. 

32) Urad dal helps to control hair fall and promote hair growth when applied to the scalp. This is because hair fall is mainly due to an aggravated Vata dosha in the body. Urad dal acts on hair fall by balancing Vata dosha. It also promotes new hair growth and removes excessive dryness. This is due to its Snigdha (oily) and Ropan (healing) properties.

33) Equal quantity of well dried black gram and black sesame seeds are taken and made into fine powder and mixed thoroughly with jaggery. 3-4 gram of this powder is mixed with a teaspoon of jaggery and taken daily along with milk, after food. This acts as a very good energiser. It is traditionally used as a tonic to improve sexual libido.

34) 100 gram of oil cooked with 30 gram of black gram and 30 gram water, until water get evaporated. This oil is used to apply over the scalp in cases like head lice, dandruff, applying over joints in cases of degenerative joint pain.

Black gram vs Green gram

• Nutritionally, cooked black and green gram beans provide the same number of calories. However, black gram beans are slightly higher in fats and proteins, whereas green gram beans are higher in carbohydrates, and therefore, dietary fiber.
• When looking at the micronutrient contents, black gram beans are richer in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, as well as vitamin B3 and vitamin A. Green gram beans, on the other hand, provide a higher level of potassium, copper, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and folate, or vitamin B9. Green gram is also lower in sodium.
• Black gram beans are richer in proteins, fats, and minerals, while green gram beans have more favorable carbohydrate and vitamin profiles.
• Green grams have a light property and are much easier to digest as opposed to black gram beans

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Refrence 

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