February 5, 2017
Typically, people eating a standard western diet eat relatively little, if any pulses.
Pulses are a subgroup of legumes which include the dried seed. Dried peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas are the most common varieties of pulses.
Pulses are so important to our diet and future of the environment, that the United Nations declared that 2016 was the year of the pulse.
5 Benefits of Consuming Pulses
1. You may live longer if you consume legumes. In countries around the world where pulses, such as beans, lentils, peas and chickpea consumption are high, it is associated with a higher lifespan. Conversely, a bean free diet is associated with a shorter lifespan.
2. High in fiber. The nutritional benefits of pulses outweighs the temporary digestion discomfort that comes from high fiber foods. You may experience flatulence after consuming beans, but after a few days, it subsides.
3. Pulses are nutritious and less expensive than animal protein. They are loaded with fibre, protein, iron, zinc, magnesium, folate and potassium. They contain complex carbohydrates with a low glycemic index. This slowly digestible starch is absorbed slowly which keeps blood sugar levels closer to normal. This is particularly important for diabetics. Pulses contain twice the protein that are found in whole grain cereals. This is particularly important for vegetarians.
4. Eating legumes on a regular basis reduces risk of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. Studies have shown that eating legumes is just as effective at slimming waistlines and improving blood sugar control as cutting 500 calories daily from your diet. You also get the added benefits of improved cholesterol and insulin regulation. Since legumes have no saturated fat and they are high in fibre, this reduces risk of cancer, heart disease and other diseases.
5. Legumes are environmentally sustainable. Pulses use half the non-renewable energy inputs of other crops. Pulses require little to no nitrogen fertilizer. When nitrogen fixing pulses are grown , they leave nitrogen behind for the following crop. This reduces the need for toxic chemical fertilizers, due to their ability to biologically fix nitrogen from the air.
So if your intake of pulses is low, why not try adding a few to soups, salads or stews. There are also many delicious recipes in vegetarian websites and cook books. You have the added bonus of sustaining our environment, saving money and improving your health.
