University of Reading researchers say its time to ‘raise the pulse’

The University of Reading says there are easy recipe swaps to incorporate more pulses into people’s diets, with nutritionists calling for everyone to make these changes. The research was published in the European Journal of Nutrition, analysed data from a representative UK population.

It found that UK adults consume on average just 15g of pulses and 27g of legumes per day – far below the recommended levels of about 80g per day which counts towards one of your five a day needed to promote good health. 

The study showed that people who regularly include pulses and legumes in their diet benefit from higher intakes of essential nutrients, including fibre, vitamin E and folate as well as important minerals such as iron, zinc and magnesium. These diets were also associated with a lower intake of saturated fats and sugars. 

Professor Julie Lovegrove, director of the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition at the University of Reading who is leading the project, commented: "Our findings clearly demonstrate the benefits of including more pulses in our daily diet.

“This doesn’t have to be difficult. Adding lentils or beans s into a curry or replacing some of the meat in a lasagne or bolognaise , can improve our diet quality and the planet's health. These foods are not only nutritious but also incredibly versatile, affordable, and sustainable."

This study is part of the large ‘Raising the Pulse’ project, funded by the BBSRC Transforming the UK food systems call, which aims to increase pulse consumption in the UK.