| «Without pulses humankind would not have even succeeded to reach the Middle Ages. This is believed by scientists and they have proof for it. When in the 11th century AC Europe had only 20 million inhabitants, who were also plagued by famine and starvation, pulses offered the critical solution and at the same time a boost for the increase of the population. The consumption of more proteins made the poor workers stronger, living longer and of course more fertile» |
| Umberto Eco |
Because foods with fiber are naturally low in fat, they may also protect you against other types of cancer to which a high-fat diet may contribute.
Fiber also lowers cholesterol, prevents constipation, and reduces your chance of having various digestive disorders.
Nutritionists advise us to consume about 20 grams of dietary fibers per day. Indicatively, 1 cup of cooked beans contains about 16 grams of dietary fibers.
Pulses such as chickpeas, lentils and beans are rich sources of calcium. Moreover, all pulses, but especially black eyed beans and lentils contain high quantities of iron. In order for our body to absorb the iron, we need to combine the pulses with foods rich in vitamin C, such as orange, lemon, peppers or tomato, and in b-carotene, such as carrot.
In pulses we also find high quantities of folic acid, a vitamin of the B-complex. Research has shown that this vitamin is important for the prevention of heart disease and some forms of cancer. Folic acid is also important for the development of the embryo, since it helps prevent congenital anomalies such as spina bifida.
History
Pulses play an important role in the nutrition of many civilizations from antiquity up until today. Pulses are mentioned on the royal graves of Ancient Egypt, in the Iliad by Homer and in the Old Testament.
The Egyptians consumed a lot of chickpeas, broad beans and lentils (which they believed to cause euphoria and used them in the oldest known soup "Potage Esau" which is still cooked in our days).
Pulses were common food for most Ancient Greeks and their favorite ones were broad beans, chickpeas and lentils.
Beans were first cultivated about 5000 years ago, in the region of today's Mexico and Peru, and were very popular in the civilizations of the Aztecs and the Incas. They came to Europe with Columbus, were they were cultivated on a large scale, when the Europeans discovered how nutritious they were. Their easy cultivation and storage ability added to the popularity of beans.
Beans were mostly food for the poor as a substitute for meat and contributed to their survival in difficult times.
Food scandals, but also research proving the Mediterranean diet to be a way to a healthier life, have brought pulses back into the spotlights and to our daily meals.
Cultivation
Pulses are grown in many parts of the world, with a global production that exceeds the 60 million tons per year. In year the yearly production is about 10.000 tons, while the consumption reaches 45.000 tons. This means that the largest part of the pulses consumed in Greece are imported.
In the past few years we can see a revival of the cultivation of pulses in Greece, an effort in which Agrino plays a leading part with specific actions. One of these is the certification of the Giant-Elephant Beans of Kastoria as PGI (Protected Geographical Indication).
Moreover, Agrino continues its yearlong effort to create groups of growers in various parts of Greece, who cultivate pulses exclusively for Agrino. Thus, the grower ensures the sale of his crop and Agrino specific quantities of Greek pulses. The first "crop" of this effort are the Fava Beans from the Feneos region, the Lentils from the Farsalla region and the Large Beans from the Prespes region, and more to follow...
