Hooray! February 10 is World Pulses Day! No, we are not asking you to check your pulse. It’s a day to remember to grow and eat pulses! Pulses are the seeds of legumes grown for both food and feed. The most common pulses are dry beans, peas and lentils, like the ones in Yumbini.

World Pulses Day was created in 2016 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It is designed to: “raise public awareness about pulses and the fundamental role they play in the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.”

The United Nations singled out Pulses because of their benefits to humans, animals and the environment. (The only other food to be recognized by the UN with their own day is potatoes, for their ability to reduce famine.)

You have probably heard beans, peas and lentils are good for you. But many people do not realize just how good they are. FAO compiled this list of the many health benefits of pulses. Beans, peas and lentils are:

1. Naturally low in fat with no cholesterol.
2. Low in sodium.
3. Great source of plant-based protein.
4. Good source of iron.
5. High in potassium.
6. Among the highest fiber foods.
7. Excellent source of folate.
8. Can be stored for a long time.
9. Low glycemic index.
10. Naturally gluten-free

You can read more details here. No wonder they created World Pulses Day! And if you don’t believe the United Nations, take a look at this video by Dr Greger of nutritionfacts.org. At 24:50 in the video, he says that the very best food to extend longevity is, you guessed it: BEANS!

In celebration of World Pulses Day and to help you live a longer, healthier life, FAO created this beautiful online book (it’s FREE!). And it is packed with lots of international recipes, beautiful pictures and other information about pulses.

But pulses are not just good food for humans, they are also powerhouses when it comes to enriching the soil:

1. Pulses improve soil health by providing and mobilizing nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and micronutrients for soils. Better soil health means better root development, creating healthier and larger crops. This reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and combats micronutrient deficiencies prevalent in the diets of many countries. And larger, healthier crops means they draw more carbon out of the atmosphere (carbon sequestration).
2. Pulses help maintain soil biodiversity leading to stronger plants that can better withstand disturbances and stress. Growing pulses in “rotation” (alternating with other crops) helps to curb and control pests and diseases.
3. Pulses enhance soil structure, making it crumbly and porous, rather than compacted, thus increasing the water-holding capacity.
4. Pulses help to mitigate and adapt to climate change. There here are many many different kinds of pulses (check out this article about the huge variety!). That makes it easier to find or develop varieties that thrive in changed climate conditions. And fields where pulses are grown together with other crops are better able to withstand climate adversities like drought.

You can read more in this article. And this infographic shows more ways pulses help with climate change. But believe it or not, even that is not all the things that pulses can do! Pulses also help farmers and our planet by

1. Pulses can grow with little water in harsh environments.
2. Pulses provide employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for rural women and youth.
3. Farmers can grow pulses both as a cash crop (for selling), as well as for eating themselves, improving diets.
4. Because pulses can be stored for a long time without losing their nutritional value, they help diversify diets and reduce food waste.
5. Pulses provide an affordable source of protein and minerals.
6. Animals fed pulse by-products grow faster with reduced methane emissions.

See more details in this infographic from FAO.

Whew! It is easy to see why World Pulses Day was established! And other organizations are in love with beans too! Beans is How, also affiliated with the United Nations, is working to double the consumption of beans worldwide by 2028. See our blog about Yumbini’s involvement! Even the US government is promoting pulses with the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Council coming out in favor of beans, peas and lentils (see more).

With all the attention on healthy food and climate change, we all need to pay close attention to our Pulse(s)!

Q&A:

What is World Pulses Day? It was established by the United Nations and happens every year on February 10.

What is it for? World Pulses Day celebrates pulses, like dry beans, peas and lentils. It highlights the ability of pulses to improve human nutrition, create sustainable agrifood systems, and combat climate change.

How can beans, peas and lentils do all that? Pulses are incredibly nutritious being high in protein, fiber, iron, folate, and potassium, while having a low glycemic index and being naturally gluten free. Pulse plants (legumes) naturally improve soil health leading to more resilient, larger crops, requiring very little water or fertilizer. And pulses contribute to food security because they are easy to grow and can be stored for a long time, diversifying diets and reducing food waste.