World Pulses Day is celebrated annually on February 10th. The day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, abbreviated as FAO, to emphasize the importance of legumes: beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas and lupins as a source of food.
Legumes have been an integral part of the human diet since ancient times and are the main ingredient in the national dishes of many peoples. In addition to nutritional and health benefits, legumes have other benefits: growing pulses is beneficial for farmers and good for the environment.
Pulses are an excellent source of protein and fiber, as well as iron, zinc, and B vitamins. They are gluten-free and have a low glycemic index. This makes pulses an important part of the diet of vegetarians, vegans, diabetics, and people with gluten intolerance. In addition, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of pulses as a source of protein in regions where meat and dairy products are not physically or economically available to the population.
