Pulse (legume)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_%28legume%29
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days;
and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. (Daniel 1:12)

A pulse (Latin "puls",
[1]
from Ancient Greek poltos "porridge"),
[2]
sometimes called a "grain legume",
[3]

is an annual leguminous crop yielding from one to twelve seeds of variable size, shape, and color within a pod.
Pulses are used for food for humans and other animals. Included in the pulses are: dry beans like pinto beans,
kidney beans and navy beans; dry peas; lentils; and others.
Like many leguminous crops, pulses play a key role in crop rotation due to their ability to fix nitrogen. To
support the awareness on this matter, the United Nations declared 2016 the UN International Year of Pulses.
[4]

Just like words such as "bean" and "lentil", the word "pulse" may refer to just the seed, or the entire plant.
Interpretations
The term "pulse", as used by the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), is reserved for
crops harvested solely for the dry seed. This excludes green beans and green peas, which are considered
vegetable crops. Also excluded are crops that are mainly grown for oil extraction (oilseeds like soybeans and
peanuts), and crops which are used exclusively for sowing (clovers, alfalfa). However, in common use, these
distinctions are not clearly made, and many of the varieties so classified and given below are also used as
vegetables, with their beans in pods while young; cooked in whole cuisines; and sold for the purpose; for
example, black-eyed beans, lima beans and Toor or pigeon peas are thus eaten as fresh green beans, or cooked
as part of a meal.
[citation needed]

History
Archaeologists have discovered traces of pulse production around Ravi River (Punjab), the seat of the Indus
Valley civilization, dating circa 3300 BC. Meanwhile, evidence of lentil cultivation has also been found in
Egyptian pyramids and dry pea seeds have been discovered in a Swiss village that are believed to date back to
the Stone Age. Archaeological evidence suggests that these peas must have been grown in the eastern
Mediterranean and Mesopotamia regions at least 5,000 years ago and in Britain as early as the 11th century.
[5]

World economy
India is the world's largest producer and the largest consumer of pulses. Pakistan, Canada, Burma, Australia and
the United States, in that order, are significant exporters and are India's most significant suppliers. Canada now
accounts for approximately 35% of global pulse trade each year. The global pulse market is estimated at 60
million tonnes.
[5]

http://www.diabetesindia.com/diabetes/pulses_list.htm
http://www.indianindustry.com/pulses/
Pulse (legume)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_%28legume%29
Classification


Variety of pulses
FAO recognizes 11 primary pulses.
1. Dry beans (Phaseolus spp. including several species now in Vigna)
o Kidney bean, haricot bean, pinto bean, navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
o Lima bean, butter bean (Phaseolus lunatus)
o Azuki bean, adzuki bean (Vigna angularis)
o Mung bean, golden gram, green gram (Vigna radiata)
o Black gram, urad (Vigna mungo)
o Scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
o Ricebean (Vigna umbellata)
o Moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia)
o Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius)
2. Dry broad beans (Vicia faba)
o Horse bean (Vicia faba equina)
o Broad bean (Vicia faba)
o Field bean (Vicia faba)
3. Dry peas (Pisum spp.)
o Garden pea (Pisum sativum var. sativum)
o Protein pea (Pisum sativum var. arvense)
4. Chickpea, garbanzo, Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum)
5. Dry cowpea, black-eyed pea, blackeye bean (Vigna unguiculata )
6. Pigeon pea, Arhar /Toor, cajan pea, Congo bean, gandules (Cajanus cajan)
7. Lentil (Lens culinaris)
8. Bambara groundnut, earth pea (Vigna subterranea)
9. Vetch, common vetch (Vicia sativa)
10. Lupins (Lupinus spp.)
11. Minor pulses, including:
o Lablab, hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus)
o Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), sword bean (Canavalia gladiata)
o Winged bean (Psophocarpus teragonolobus)
o Velvet bean, cowitch (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis)
o Yam bean (Pachyrrizus erosus)
Pulse (legume)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_%28legume%29
Nutrients
Pulses provide protein, complex carbohydrates, and several vitamins and minerals. Like other plant-based
foods, they contain no cholesterol and little fat or sodium. Pulses also provide iron, magnesium, phosphorus,
zinc and other minerals, which play a variety of roles in maintaining good health.
[6]

Pulses are 20 to 25% protein by weight, which is double the protein content of wheat and three times that of
rice.
[7]
While pulses are generally high in protein, and the digestibility of that protein is also high, they are often
relatively poor in methionine, an essential amino acid. Grains (which are themselves deficient in lysine) are
commonly consumed along with pulses to form a complete diet of protein. Indian cuisine also includes sesame
seeds, which contain high levels of methionine.
Health
There is evidence that a portion of pulses (roughly one cup daily) in a diet may help lower blood pressure and
reduce LDL cholesterol levels, though there is concern with the quality of the supporting data.
[8][9]

See also
Bean
Common bean
Dal
Legume
Fabaceae
List of dried foods

Daniel 1
Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah. Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us
pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and
the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal
with thy servants.
So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten
days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat
the portion of the king's meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the
wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave
them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all
visions and dreams.