Friday, September 14, 2012

HEALTH BENIFITS OF PULSES


Pulses are low fat, high fibre, no cholesterol, low glycemic index, high protein, high nutrient foods. They are excellent foods for people managing their diabetes, heart disease or coeliac disease.




Pulses help in maintaining a healthy heart. Including more pulses in your diet can reduce the chances of cardiovascular diseases. Pulses rich in fibre helps in maintaining a healthy heart as it reduces cholesterol levels.Additionally, pulses can help people concerned with weight control.

Pulses also are a good source of folate, a B vitamin needed to produce and maintain new cells. Folate is especially important during periods of rapid growth, such as pregnancy and infancy. Women of childbearing age need adequate intake of folate to limit their risk of having a child born with a neural tube defect. Folate content varies among the different pulses.

Pulses are low in glycemic index. Glycemic index affects food and rates the sugar levels which they comprise.  Food with low glycemic index causes lesser rise in sugar levels, whereas foods that have high with glycemic index increases your sugar level. Thus, a diet rich with pulses helps in lowering blood sugar levels and the risk of diabetes. Diabetics can include a rich pulse diet as, it helps in managing sugar levels. Foods like beans high in nutrition must be consumed. Bean pulses are very healthy and a great source of proteins.

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