Lovely lentils

Regular intake of pulses, and lentils in particular, can slash diabetes risk

A recent study focused on the role of pulses (lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas) in type 2 diabetes prevention. Pulses are a good source of protein, healthy carbohydrates and fibre and are also low in fat – an ideal staple in anyone’s diet!

The scientific team analysed the diets and health of 3,349 participants over several years. At the end, results showed that people who ate the most pulses (around 30 grams per day or 3.5 servings per week) had a 35 per cent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Looking at different types of pulses separately, lentil and chickpeas appeared to be particularly beneficial.

Pulses should be one of the staples of a vegan diet, not just because they are extremely nutritious and contain several essential minerals and vitamins, but also due to their health-protective properties. Studies showed they are useful in the prevention of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

_{Becerra-Tomás N et al., 2017. Legume consumption is inversely associated with type 2 diabetes incidence in adults: A prospective assessment from the PREDIMED study. Clinical Nutrition. S0261-5614 (17) 30106-1.}