Pulses and legumes
This includes Goa beans (alsande), Bengal gram (white chana and red chana), black gram (urad), cow pea (chawli or lobia), field bean (avare), green gram (moong), green peas (vatana), horse gram (kuleeth), kidney beans (rajma), lentil (masur), moth bean (matki), pigeon pea or red gram (tur or arhar ) and soyabean.
Nutritional nuggets
Pulses are rich sources of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals and are low in fat. However, they also contain certain sugars that we are not able to digest well because of the lack of certain enzymes in our body.
When these sugars are digested by the micro-flora in our lower intestinal tract, it results in the production of gas and flatulence. Sprouting or germination reduces the content of these indigestible sugars.
Fat fight
Pulses keep you full longer due to the presence of both protein and fibre. As a result, you eat less.
Tasty bites
They are best consumed in sprouted form as the germination process causes the starch and protein to be converted into simpler, easily digested forms.
Sprouts are rich in Vitamins B, C and E and calcium, iron and phosphorus, all of which are necessary for a healthy body. Aim to have a small bowl everyday, either cooked or as a salad.
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