Grain Legumes Are Highly Nutritious, Sustainable, But Unfortunately Not Widely Cultivated

Grain legumes, also known as pulses, are packed with essential micronutrients, and are highly sustainable because they do not require nitrogen fertilization. But unfortunately they are not cultivated on the same scale as cereals in most countries, a joint U.S.-Canadian study reports.  The researchers noted that a 3.5 ounce serving of any of field peas, lentils, chickpeas, and common bean provides a significant amount of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and nickel. The only key micronutrient that the crops lacked is calcium. The researchers recommended that agriculturists and dieticians around the world should encourage Increased production and consumption of grain legume crops, because of their nutrition profile and sustainability.