Y

legumes

Yellow moong dal

5/ 10Mixed
Controversy: 7.1

Rated by 11 diets

5 approve2 caution4 avoid

The diets react (see scores below)

Approves5
Caution2
Disapproves4
Is Yellow moong dal Healthy?

It depends — Yellow moong dal is a mixed bag. Some diets approve it while others urge caution. Context and quantity matter.

Nutrition Facts
Per 100g

Diet Ratings

KetoAvoid

Yellow moong dal (mung bean) is a legume with ~20g net carbs per 100g cooked. Fundamentally incompatible with ketogenic diet due to high carbohydrate content and starch profile.

VeganApproved

Whole plant legume with no animal products or derivatives. Excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber. Staple in vegan diets.

PaleoAvoid

Moong dal is a legume (mung bean), explicitly excluded from paleo diet. Legumes contain anti-nutrients like lectins and phytic acid that damage gut health and nutrient absorption. Clear consensus across all paleo authorities.

MediterraneanApproved

Yellow moong dal is a legume, a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. It is plant-based, whole, nutrient-dense, and provides protein and fiber. While not traditionally Mediterranean, it aligns perfectly with the diet's legume emphasis.

Debated

Moong dal is not a traditional Mediterranean legume; Mediterranean cuisines typically emphasize chickpeas, lentils, and fava beans. However, modern Mediterranean diet principles embrace all legumes as nutritionally equivalent plant-based proteins.

CarnivoreAvoid

Yellow moong dal is a legume (plant-derived) and is completely incompatible with carnivore diet principles. Legumes are explicitly excluded due to their plant origin, high carbohydrate content, and anti-nutritive compounds. No carnivore protocol permits legumes in any form.

Whole30Avoid

Yellow moong dal is a legume (mung bean). Legumes are explicitly excluded from Whole30 for the entire 30-day period. There are no exceptions for moong dal.

Low-FODMAPCaution

Moong dal (mung bean) contains GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides), a FODMAP. Monash rates cooked mung beans as low-FODMAP at 1/2 cup cooked (75g), but dried moong dal has higher FODMAP concentration. Canned/rinsed versions are lower in GOS due to leaching. During strict elimination, portion control is essential; many practitioners recommend avoiding legumes entirely to simplify compliance.

Debated

Monash rates cooked mung beans as low-FODMAP at 1/2 cup, but clinical FODMAP practitioners often recommend avoiding all legumes during the elimination phase due to GOS content and practical difficulty in portion control. Rinsing canned versions reduces GOS but does not eliminate it entirely.

DASHApproved

Yellow moong dal (mung bean) is a legume core to DASH. Excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, potassium, and magnesium. Low sodium in unsalted form. Supports 1-2 servings/week legume target.

ZoneCaution

Moong dal is a legume with a favorable protein-to-carb ratio compared to many legumes, but it is still carbohydrate-dense. One cooked cup (~200g) contains roughly 14g protein and 38g net carbs, requiring approximately 2 protein blocks and 4 carb blocks. It can fit into Zone meals but requires precise portioning and should be balanced with fat and non-starchy vegetables.

Moong dal (mung bean) is a legume rich in plant-based protein, fiber, polyphenols, and resistant starch. It has low glycemic impact, supports gut health, and contains compounds with demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity. It is easily digestible compared to other legumes and is emphasized in traditional anti-inflammatory cuisines.

GLP-1 FriendlyApproved

Yellow moong dal is an excellent plant-based protein source (12-14g protein per cooked cup), high in fiber (8g per cooked cup), low in fat, and easy to digest. It is nutrient-dense per calorie and works well in small portions. Ideal for GLP-1 patients seeking plant-based protein.

Controversy Index

Score range: 110/10. Higher controversy = more disagreement between diets.

Consensus7.1Divisive

Diet-Specific Tips for Yellow moong dal

Vegan 10/10
  • Whole plant legume
  • High protein content
  • No animal ingredients
Mediterranean 8/10
  • Legume—core Mediterranean food group
  • Plant-based protein source
  • High in fiber and micronutrients
  • Whole, unprocessed food
Low-FODMAP 4/10
  • Contains GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides)
  • Cooking and rinsing reduce GOS content
  • Portion size critical: 1/2 cup cooked is threshold
DASH 8/10
  • High plant-based protein
  • Rich in fiber and potassium
  • Low sodium (unsalted)
  • Supports legume servings
Zone 5/10
  • Legume with moderate protein content
  • Carbohydrate-dense
  • Requires careful portioning
  • Better than many legumes for Zone
  • Plant-based protein option
  • plant protein
  • fiber
  • polyphenols
  • low glycemic index
  • resistant starch
  • digestibility
  • High protein density for plant-based source
  • High fiber content
  • Low fat
  • Easy to digest
  • Nutrient-dense per calorie