What is a Pulse?
Pulses are edible seeds from the legume family including beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils. They are very high in protein and fibre, and low in fat. Pulses are nitrogen-fixing crops that improve the environmental sustainability of cropping systems.
Other foods in the legume family like fresh beans and peas are not considered pulses – the term “pulse” only refers to the dried seed. Soybeans and peanuts are also not considered pulses because they have a much higher fat content, whereas pulses contain virtually none.
Pulses come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours and can be consumed in many forms including whole or split, or in food products like baking or snacks after they’re ground into flours or separated into fractions such as protein, fibre and starch.
Pulses in Canada
Canada is one of the largest pulse producers in the world and the largest exporter, with over 80% of pulses grown being shipped around the world.
The four main types of pulses grown in Canada are dry peas, lentils, chickpeas and beans.
To discover new recipes and learn about the benefits of adding pulses to your diet, visit Pulses.org
