Tackling Obesity With a Secret Superfood Crop

Britain is waking up to its obesity issues. Currently in the UK, three in ten adults are overweight, and run a higher risk of developing diabetes, cancer and heart disease. To combat this, a string of initiatives have recently been launched by the UK government. A tax on sugary drinks and a review of fast-food advertising aimed at children are among the strategies being implemented and discussed. But is enough being done to ensure more nutritious, convenient and affordable foods are on offer to consumers? How can we stop consumers reaching for that packet of crisps when hunger strikes? This is one of the questions the Global Pulse Confederation asked when it launched a worldwide competition to find the best new recipes, featuring the underutilized pulse family. Pulses are the edible seeds of plants in the legume family, which include dry beans, dry peas, chickpeas and lentils. Pulses have been hailed as a new "superfood" since they are high in protein, dietary fibre and antioxidants yet low in fat and gluten-free. However, per capita consumption of pulses has stagnated in recent years. When searching for a food that will bring down obesity and heart disease levels, pulses are a fantastic option, so we need to find fresh and exciting ways to incorporate them into our daily diets. My entry - which won first place in the global virtual competition - is a healthier alternative to that go-to snack, a packet of crisps. And I did it using an ingredient I imagine most UK consumers...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news