Green Gram

Properties:

• Best among the legumes
• Green gram Sundal reduces pitta and kapha
• Produces very little vata
• Best among the ‘Pathya Aahaara’
• It is suitable in both diseased and healthy conditions

Specially recommended in the case of-

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Grahani (Sprue)
• Raktapitta (bleeding disorders)
• Weakness of the body
• Udara (enlargement of abdomen)
• Giddiness
• Beriberi
• Burning sensation
• Ulcers gout
• Skin diseases
• Psychological diseases
• Diabetes
• Heart diseases

English name: Green gram or mung bean

Botanical name: Vigna radiata

Sanskrit name: Mudga

Tamil name: Pacchai payaru

Preparation:

Ingredients:

• Mung dal – 50 gm
• Sesame oil – 1 spoon
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Black gram – 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Asafetida – 1 pinch
• Green chilly – 1
• Curry leaves – few
• Rock salt – to taste

Method:

Soak the legume overnight. Boil till soft. Decant the water. In a pan, pour sesame oil. When it is heated, add the mustard seeds, black gram, cumin seeds, asafetida, green chilly and curry leaves. When the mustard has popped, add the cooked mung dal and rock salt. Mix them well. Grated coconut may be added if needed. Finely chopped unripe mango also improves the taste. (Adding coconut makes sundal heavy. It is advisable only when the person has good digestive power.)

Glossary:

‘Pathya’ – Wholesome diet that normalizes the channels of the body

Vata – It refers to one of the three doshas. It is made of air and ether. Movement, coldness, lightness and dryness characterize this functional unit of the body. When out of balance, it produces pain in various body parts.

Pitta – It is one of the three doshas and is made up of fire and water. Pitta is characterized by heat, temperature and digestion in the body. When imbalanced it produces heat and a burning sensation.

Kapha – Constitutes one of the three doshas. This is made of earth and water. It is characterized by fluidity, strength and nourishment. When imbalanced it produces heaviness and phlegm in the body

Grahani – Sprue – the disease in which food is eliminated with out proper digestion or absorption

Rakta pitta – a disease characterized by bleeding in different parts of the body

Udara – a disease characterized by enlargement of abdomen