FEBRUARY 10 IS WORLD PULSE DAY
The UN General Assembly proclaimed February 10 as World Pulses Day. Following the success of the International Year of Pulses in 2016, World Pulses Day gives an opportunity to focus public attention on the nutritional value of these food groups. Pulses - contribute to achieving sustainable food systems and a world without hunger. The nitrogen-fixing properties of leguminous crops improve soil fertility, which helps to increase the productivity of agricultural land.
Legumes are a group of agricultural crops. These include peas, lentils, beans, chickpeas and lupine. The category of pulses does not include crops that are harvested green (such as green peas and green beans): they are classified as vegetables.
In addition, pulses do not include crops which fruits are used primarily for the extraction of vegetable oil (for example, soybeans and peanuts), or legumes which seeds are used exclusively for planting purposes (for example, clover and alfalfa seeds). It's possible that you're eating a lot of pulses than you think! Popular types of pulses include all varieties of dried beans such as kidney beans, lima beans, butterbeans and green beans. Chickpeas, cowpeas and pigeon peas are also legumes, as all varieties of entils.
Pulses are part of main dishes and are an integral part of cuisines around the world, from Mediterranean hummus, made from chickpeas, to the traditional Full English breakfast (stewed beans) and Indian dal (made from peas or lentils).
Don't forget to include beans in your diet!
Azanali AZIZOV,
the 1st year student of International Law Faculty
of the Institute of International Relations
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.