Hülsenfrüchte

What are Pulses?

Pulses are edible seeds from the legume family such as beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils — but only the dried variants are referred to as pulses, meaning that fresh beans and peas are not included. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours — whole or divided, ground into flour and made into snacks, baked goods or pasta. In fact, there are over 18,000 different types worldwide — but all types have one thing in common: they are very high in protein and fibre and contain little fat.

From Canada to the Whole World

Canada is one of the largest legume producers in the world and the largest exporter. Over 80% of cultivated legumes are shipped all over the world. The four main types of legumes grown in Canada are dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, and beans.

Concentrated Power in Small Fruit

Legumes such as peas, lentils score points with high-quality vegetable protein. But they are also rich in a wide variety of vitamins and other micronutrients such as iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc and folic acid. Their high fibre content is satiating, and the low glycemic index can help control blood sugar levels — which is particularly important for people with diabetes.

Food for People and the Ecosystem

Legumes are not only a valuable source of nutrients for the human body, their cultivation also improves soil quality on fields and agricultural land. Through symbiosis with nodule bacteria in the soil, legumes can accumulate between 50 and 100 kg of nitrogen in the soil per hectare and year. This is then available to subsequent plants as fertilizer. As a result, legumes are particularly sustainable and climate-friendly.