The United Nations, led by its Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO), has declared
2016 the International Year of Pulses (IYP) to
celebrate and increase awareness of the many
benefits pulses offer, including their nutritional
profile, environmental and sustainability
benefits, affordability and potential role in
addressing global food security. With all this
talk about the pros of pulses, you may be
wondering, what exactly is a pulse?
According to the FAO, 5 key reasons why
pulses are important and deserve this
recognition are:
1 - Nutrition & Health : Pulses are
nutritious due to their rich protein, fibre, and
micronutrient content, contributing to a
healthy diet addressing malnutrition and
related diseases,
2 - Environment :
The nitrogen-
fixing properties of pulses can contribute to
increasing soil fertility and have a positive
impact on the environment,
3 - Sustainability :
Conservation
and use of the biodiversity of pulses plays a role
in preventing land degradation and realizing
sustainable food production,
4 - Economy :
Pulses are part of the legume family, but the
term ‘pulse’ refers only to crops harvested for
the dried seed. There are hundreds of varieties
of pulses, used for both food and feed, of variable
size, shape, and colour grown throughout the
world, with Canada being a global leader in pulse
production. Popular varieties include chickpeas,
lentils, and black-eyed peas, as well as dried beans
such as kidney beans, lima beans, butter beans,
and broad beans. While pulses are a globally
used resource, why did the UN dedicate an
entire year to the pulse?
Pulses are economically
accessible with a potential role in addressing
food security issues, in addition to contributing
to the income security of farmers in developing
countries,
5 - Research :
Knowledge gaps and
research needs still need to be identified and
addressed to unlock the full potential of
pulses. In light of these qualities, the aim for
highlighting pulses this year is to promote the
value and utilization of pulses throughout the
food system, encourage connections to further
global production and use, and foster enhanced
research.
There are many ways you can participate in celebrating this
International Year of the Pulse. You can join Pulse Canada’s ‘pulse
pledge’ challenge led by Canadian Chef Michael Smith ( to find out
more visit pulsepledge.com, or try the recipes included in this
nutrinews issue and incorporate pulses into your next meal!
Photo from: http://www.pulsecanada.com/food-health/what-is-a-pulse
SPRING 2016 | From Prescription to Nutrition | 9