pulses

Importance of Pulses in Diet



Pulses may be defined as the dried edible seeds of cultivated legumes. They belong to the family of peas, beans and lentils. The English word pulse is taken from the Latin puls, meaning pottage or thick pap. The pulses are a large family and various species are capable or surviving in very different climates and soils.

Traces of pulse crops have been found from ancient times in archaeological sites of both the Old and New Worlds and they appear to have been among the earliest domesticated plants. These findings indicate an almost simultaneous arrival of cereals and pulses around 10,000 BC.

Pulses are cultivated in all parts of the world, and they occupy an important place in human diet. They however, make a much more important contribution to the diet of all classes of society in the East than in the West. In India especial I y, people who are mostly vegetarian depend largely on cereals arid pulses as their staple food, which serve as the main source of dietary protein and energy.

Food Value

Pulses contain more protein than any other plant. They serve as a low-cost protein to meet the needs of the large section of the people. They have, therefore, been justifiably described as 'the poor man's meat'. Their low moisture content and hard testa or seed-coat permit storage over long periods. In addition to providing dry pulses, many of the-crops are grown for their green edible pods and unripe seeds. Nutritionally, immature fruits have distinctly different properties to those of the mature seed, the protein content is lower but they are relatively richer in vitamins and soluble carbohydrates. The leaves arid shoots of some of the crops are used as pot-herbs.

In general, pulses contain 20 to 28 per cent protein per 100 gm. with the exception of soybean which has as much as 47 per cent. Their carbohydrate content is about 60 per cent per 100 gm. except soybean which has about 30 per cent. Pulses are also fairly good sources of thiamin and niacin and provide calcium, phosphorus and iron. On an average 100 gram of pulses contain energy 345 kcal, protein 24.5 gm., calcium 140 mg. phosphorus 300 mg., iron 8 mg., thiamin 0.5 mg., riboflavin 0.3 mg. and niacin 2 mg.

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties

The nutritive properties of pulses resemble in many respects those of the whole cereal grains; but there are important differences. First, the pulse protein is low in sulfur containing amino acids, but rich in lysine in which many cereals are deficient. A combination of pulses and cereal proteins may, therefore, have a nutritive value as good as animal proteins. Secondly, pulses as a class are good sources of the B group of vitamins except riboflavin. More important, the greater part of these vitamins present in the harvested seeds is actually consumed. There are no losses comparable with those that may arise in the milling and cooking of cereals. Pulses are therefore, an excellent preventive against beriberi.

Thirdly, although pulses, like cereal grains, are devoid of Vitamin C, large amount of ascorbic acid are formed on germination. Sprouted pulses are, therefore, an important food which will protect against scurvy. Dietitians in Asian and African hospitals make beneficial use of sprouted pulses for their menus, especially when fresh vegetables and fruits are scarce or too expensive.

In health, the digestion of pulses and the absorption of their principal nutrients is practically complete and nearly as effective as is the assimilation of cereals. Their digestion, may, however, be incomplete in gastro-intestinal disorders. Only small quantities of well-cooked pulses should, therefore, be included in the diets of patients with stomach disorders.

Uses

Pulses are used as a common foodstuff in various forms. Pulses, dehusked, decorticated and whole seed, are used as dhal and taken with chappatis and cooked rice, Whole seeds take longer time to cook than the dehusked and decorticated ones which are relatively better digestible.

Pulses are also commonly used in the form of flour such as that of Bengal gram, green gram, black gram, known as 'besan'. It is used for mixing with cereal flour in various proportions for chappatis and other preparations.

The practice of utilizing germinated seed or sprouting or young seedlings of pulses as a fresh vegetable is widespread in the Orient. The storage of dried seed and their sprouting as required enables a continuous supply of fresh vegetable material to be produced. There is an amazing increase in nutrients in sprouted pulses when compared to their dried embryo. In the process of sprouting, the vitamins, minerals and protein increase substantially with corresponding decrease in calories and carbohydrate content.

Sprouting of the pulses not only improves nutritive value but also digestibility. During sprouting, starch is broken down to dextrin and maltose, and proteins are broken down to polypeptides, peptides and amino acids. Some of the bound iron is converted to a more readily assimilable form. Phosphorus is liberated from phytate. The ascorbic acid or vitamin C content rises from negligible levels in the seed to 12 mgs. per 100 gram after 4.8 hours of germination. Riboflavin and niacin contents increase significantly. These changes are brought about by enzymes which become active during germination.