It’s six months in, and the 2016 International Year of Pulses (IYP) declared by 68th UN General Assembly has been creating a lot of beneficial buzz. And it’s easy to see why. The goal of IYP 2016 is to increase public awareness of the incredible nutritional, environmental and societal benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production.
So, what are “pulses”?
In a technical sense, pulses are annual leguminous crops yielding between one and 12 grains or seeds of variable size, shape and colour within a pod, used for both food and feed. Pulse: from the Latin puls meaning thick soup or potage, pulses are the edible seeds of plants in the legume family. You may not know it, but you probably eat pulses already! Some commonly consumed pulses are lentils, beans, chickpeas and peas.
Why should we think about pulses?
Not only are pulses a vital source of plant-based proteins and amino acids—they should be included in regular consumption as part of a healthy diet to address obesity. Surprisingly, they are also helpful in preventing and managing chronic diseases like diabetes, coronary conditions and cancer.
Infographic Source: “Nutritional benefits of pulses.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. United Nations, 29 June 2016. Web. 16 May 2016.
Nutrition aside, pulses are leguminous plants that have nitrogen-fixing properties which can contribute to increasing soil fertility and have a positive impact on the environment. They contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing dependence on the synthetic fertilizers used to introduce nitrogen artificially into the soil. Many of the internationally-eaten pulses are grown right here in Canada too; so you can feel good about supporting your Canadian farmers and manufacturers. Several chefs, food celebrities and organizations around the globe are supporting the IYOP, including Chef Jenny Chandler, the Eating Better Alliance, and Chef Michael Smith (a Source Nutraceutical, Inc. staff favourite).
“Lentils are one of the single healthiest foods you can eat… right here in Canada we grow the worlds best lentils… when you understand ingredients behind your recipes, it makes you a better cook! Check out the videos we shot on the lentil farms.”
Says Chef, in his #LentilHunter program with Lentils.ca
So why not ride the lentil-train and make a meatless bean-based chili, or even include a few chickpeas on your favourite salad! The possibilities are endless.
