Why you should eat more pulses | World pulses day
An overview on pulses:
Pulses are the dry, edible seeds of the plant
belonging to the plant Leguminosae. Pulses being easy to store, nutrient dense,
while not burning a hole in ones’s pocket, are extensively grown throughout the
world.
Dried beans, lentils and peas the most widely
consumed pulses in the world.
Another name for pulses is legumes. Pulses are
often referred to as poor man’s meat because although they are highly
nutritious, they are quite low in cost.
World pulses day:
The United Nations declared 2016 as the International
year of pulses on December 20, 2013.
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| Pic credit-Wikipedia |
The day aims to spread the awareness regarding
the benefits of not only eating pulses, but also growing pulses. It serves as an opportunity to
raise awareness and recognize the benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production with the
objective of enhancing food security and nutrition.
Pulses are not just seeds and contribute to ‘Zero
Hunger world’ which the UN strives to attain.
Let's discuss about some nutritional benefits of
pulses:
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| Pic credit- The Hans India |
Pulses are rich in
fibre, containing both soluble and insoluble fibres. Consumption of soluble fibre on a regular basis can help decrease
cholesterol and blood sugar levels whereas Insoluble fibre improves digestion
and bowel movement.
Excellent for Diabetic people-
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| Pic credit- daily express |
Pulses have low glycemic index, low fat and high
fibre content which makes them suitable for diabetic people. Pulses can
help lower blood cholesterol and blood glucose, which in turn help fight
against diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
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credit- Down to earth Pulses are valuable sources of iron which makes
them a potent food for replenishing iron stores. This is beneficial for women
for preventing iron deficiency anemia particularly at their reproductive
age. Antioxidant-  Pulses, Beans and lentils have
ample of polyphenols, which are antioxidants. Pulses are rich in phytochemicals
which have anti-cancer properties. Free radicals are known to cause various
diseases. Antioxidant helps to remove these free radicals. Heart Health:  Consuming pulses lowers the chances of
getting affected by cardiovascular diseases. Researchers have explained
that eating pulses can lower blood cholesterol and reduce blood
pressure which are all risk factors for heart disease. Risk of Cancer-  Pulses have
anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which are known to reduce the
risk of cancer. An element called Selenium present in pulses helps in
decreasing the rate of tumor growth. Researchers say that Selenium assists in
improving immunity in human body. Moreover it stimulates the production of T
helper cells which in turn kill infected target cells. Weight management-  Pic
credit- Onlymyhealth The soluble fibre in the pulses slows down the process of digestion and absorption. The fiber content usually help people feel “full” or satiated at mealtime. This helps people with weight management. All in all, pulses have proved to be an important dietary factor in enhancing longevity in human beings. Let’s pledge to raise awareness of the nutritional value of pulses to
help people adopt healthier diets. #Lovepulses -Rozee Behera |
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