Legumes
Legumes are plants in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of these plants. Like their close relative, lupins, legumes contain symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in structures called root nodules. The cultivation of legumes has allowed humans to reduce their dependence on meat. Legume species grown for their seeds include beans, lentils, lupins, peas, chickpeas, carob and peanuts. Some well-known legumes include alfalfa; carob; soybeans; clover; peanuts; pea; garbanzo beans (chickpeas); tamarind; kidney beans; lima beans; pinto beans; navy beans; pigeon pea or Indian pea or gandules or no eye pea or Congo pea or cow pea or southern peas. Legumes have flowers that are pollinated by insects and small animals, but not wind.
Legumes grow in the ground and have a root system that absorbs water from moist soil. They also use their roots to absorb nutrients from the soil so they can grow healthy leaves and other parts.
Legumes grow in pods with seeds inside them—those are called beans! When you eat these beans, they may be green or brown depending on how old they are when you cook them up into a delicious meal!
What bacteria are found in legumes?
Like their close relative, lupins, legumes contain symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in structures called root nodules. These bacteria are not harmful to humans and help the plants grow by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by the plant. They also return some of this fixed nitrogen back to the soil so that other plants can use it too! This makes legumes an important food crop for humans as well as animals (they're high in protein).
Health benefits of legumes
- Legumes are an important part of a balanced diet.
- They're high in protein.
- High in iron and zinc.
- High in calcium.
- High in magnesium and potassium.
- They also contain significant amounts of fiber.
Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock forage and silage, and as soil-enhancing green manure. These are all the things that legumes do in the world. They're important food crops; they provide protein and fiber; they can help replenish soil nutrients when planted as green manure.
Legume species grown for their seeds includes:
Legume species grown for their seeds include beans, lentils, lupins, peas, chickpeas, carob and peanuts.
They are high in protein and fiber (a good source of iron, zinc and B vitamins) and also contain folate.
When cooked or sprouted they can be eaten whole or used as an ingredient in other dishes such as hummus or falafel.
In addition to being a source of protein, legumes are also an important source of fiber. In fact, the fiber found in beans is one of the best kinds. It’s called resistant starch and it has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels after meals.
Some well-known legumes include:
- alfalfa.
- carob.
- soybeans.
- clover.
- peanuts.
- pea.
- garbanzo beans (chickpeas).
- kidney beans.
- lima beans.
- pinto beans.
- navy beans.pigeon pea or Indian pea
- jack bean etc.
Legumes are important food crops.
Legumes are important food crops. They are a good source of protein, fiber and minerals such as iron and zinc.
Legumes can be grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock forage and silage, and as soil-enhancing green manure.
Conclusion
Legumes are important food crops, and they have contributed to the development of civilization by providing a reliable source of protein.