Harvard Heart Letter
Legume of the month: Lentils
Lentils are tiny, lens-shaped legumes that come in array of colors, including yellow, red, green, brown, and black. Compared with other legumes, lentils are particularly rich in compounds known as polyphenols. These plant-based micronutrients are thought to help protect against cardiovascular disease. Another advantage to lentils is that you don’t need to soak them in advance, as is necessary with beans. And they cook quickly — usually in about 20 minutes or less. In