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Benefits of pulse consumption on glycemic control are well established; however, research examining the effects of pulse fractions incorporated into extruded products is limited. In a randomized, repeated-measures crossover study, adults (n = 26) consumed cereals made with oat flour (control), oat flour and pea starch (starch), oat flour and pea protein (protein), oat flour, pea starch and pea protein (starch+protein), oat flour, pea fibre and pea protein (fibre+protein), and pea fibre, pea starch and pea protein (fibre+starch+protein). Blood glucose (BG) and insulin concentrations, and appetite incremental area under the curve (iAUC) were calculated before (0–120 min) and after (120–200 min) the ad libitum meal for measurement of food intake. Pre-meal, overall mean BG and iAUC were lower following the protein, starch+protein, protein+fibre, and the fibre+starch+protein cereals compared with the starch and control. For pre-meal overall mean insulin concentrations, fibre+protein led to a lower response compared with control, starch+protein, and protein cereals. Fibre+starch+protein also led to lower insulin compared with protein cereal. Pre-meal insulin iAUC was lower following fibre+protein compared with control and protein cereals. The inclusion of yellow pea protein and fibre in oat-based breakfast cereal reduces postprandial glycemia; however this effect is dependent on fraction type. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02366572. Novelty: Inclusion of pulse protein and fibre in oat flour-based breakfast cereal reduces postprandial glucose response. The glycemic benefits of whole pulses are at least somewhat retained in some pulse fractions.

Research indicates that the post-prandial glycemic benefits of consuming whole pulses are retained when consumed in a mixed meal, pureed, and ground into flours. The glycemic benefits of pulse flours when incorporated into extruded products are unknown. In a randomized, repeated-measures crossover study, adults (n = 26) consumed extruded corn snacks made with the addition of 40% pulse flour from either: whole yellow pea, split yellow pea, green lentil, chickpea, or pinto bean. The control snack was 100% corn. Food intake was measured with an ad libitum meal consumed at 120 min. Blood glucose (BG), insulin and appetite were measured regularly before (pre-meal, 0-120 min) and after (post-meal, 140-200 min) the meal. Pinto bean and chickpea snacks led to lower (p

Pulses, defined as dry-harvested leguminous crops, include several varieties of beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas. There is no consensus around a recommended serving size of pulses within a balanced diet, which prevents the development of transregional strategies that rely on consistent messaging to drive increases in consumption. The purpose of this review is to define and disseminate an appropriate target for a minimum serving size of pulses on any given day that can be used in international or collaborative strategies to promote the consumption of pulses. Relevant data were reviewed to examine dietary guidelines across jurisdictions, determine consumption levels of pulses across the globe, evaluate the nutritional composition of pulses in the context of dietary nutrient insufficiency, and assess the impact of pulses on dietary quality. Across a variety of pulses, 100 g of cooked pulses aligned with most regional serving sizes for pulses and provides significant levels of nutrients that are underconsumed by specific age-sex groups. Moreover, 100 g of pulses provides a number of nutrients that qualify for nutrient content claims under regional regulatory frameworks. The data demonstrate that 100 g or 125 mL (0.5 metric cup) of cooked pulses is a reasonable target for aligning strategies that promote the dietary and nutritional attributes of these legumes.

Processing of pulses (peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, and faba beans) is necessary to reduce or eliminate the antinutrient compounds. Conventional processing including soaking, dehulling, boiling, and pressure cooking as well as germination and fermentation reduce the levels of phytate, protease inhibitors, phenolics, condensed tannins, lectins, and saponins. Recent research has investigated how innovative processes such as extrusion, microwave heating, micronization, and irradiation affect the antinutrient content. Germination tends to be most effective at reducing phytate levels, regardless of pulse type. Mixed results on the effectiveness of extrusion, microwave heating, and micronization have been reported. More work is needed to understand how processing of consumer-ready foods containing pulse ingredients affects levels of antinutrient compounds.

The objectives of this qualitative study was to: (1) understand Canadian consumers&rsquo, knowledge and perception of dietary carbohydrates, carbohydrate quality, and the glycemic index (GI), and (2) determine Canadian&rsquo, s receptiveness to GI labelling to assist with identifying and consuming foods of higher carbohydrate quality. Focus groups were recruited in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal and grouped according to body mass index (BMI) (NBW, normal body weight, PO, previously obese, and OW/OB, overweight/obese) and diagnosis with prediabetes and diabetes (PO (Vancouver) and OW/OB (Montreal and Toronto). Subjects in all groups linked excess consumption of carbohydrate with weight gain. PO and OW/OB groups were conflicted between perceived negative consequences and feelings of pleasure associated with carbohydrate consumption. Subjects were largely unfamiliar with the term &lsquo, carbohydrate quality&rsquo, but were often associated with classifying carbohydrates as &lsquo, good&rsquo, or &lsquo, bad&rsquo, The concept of the GI resonated well across groups after exposure to corresponding educational materials. However, NBW groups largely felt that the GI was irrelevant to their dietary choices as they did not have a history of diabetes. PO and OW/OB groups associated the GI with diabetes management. The concept of a GI labelling program to help facilitate healthier carbohydrate choices was well received across all groups, especially when the low GI was interpreted as giving permission to consume foods they enjoyed eating. Results suggest that the GI could be used as a consumer-facing labelling program in Canada and assist with de-stigmatizing carbohydrate foods by helping to facilitate the consumption of carbohydrate foods that align with healthy dietary patterns.

The United Nations declaration of 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP) provided an unprecedented opportunity to showcase pulses on the global stage for their contribution to affordable nutrition, health, and sustainability. Despite the IYP's successes in stakeholder engagement, continuing to foster and strengthen partnerships and collaborations is necessary to meet the IYP goals of increased pulse production and consumption for human benefit. Shifting consumer behavior to increase pulse consumption emerged during IYP meetings as a shared priority for all stakeholders. Focusing on this shared priority provides an opportunity to strengthen collaboration among all stakeholder groups for research, education, marketing, and ingredient/food production. Although the IYP officially closed at the end of 2016, the pulse community has an opportunity to continue building successful collaborations. The future research agenda can foster increased pulse production and consumption to address global nutrition, health, and sustainability challenges, provided that it is developed with multisectorial perspectives and cross-disciplinary collaborations. But, most importantly, the research agenda for pulses must be centered more deliberately on the end consumer and how to drive shifts in behavior toward increased pulse consumption, as this is the common shared priority around which all stakeholders can rally.

Pulses (Fabaceae) have regained interest for their high protein level. However, food application of pulses and pulse ingredients is hampered by several issues around their off‐flavor. Off‐flavors in pulses are partially inherent and partially produced during harvesting, processing, and storage. Generally, volatile off‐flavor compounds in pulses belong to the categories of aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, acids, pyrazines, sulfur compounds, and others, and off‐taste is strongly correlated to the presence of saponins, phenolic compounds, and sometimes alkaloids. No systematic studies have been performed on the identification of the off‐flavor compounds present in pulses in relation to their contribution to the overall perception of the pulses. This review article aims to provide a concise overview highlighting the most important aspects of the knowledge available on the off‐flavor compounds present in various pulses, their possible origins, and the technologies available to prevent, reduce, or mask these off‐flavor compounds. Rather than attempting to make a full inventory of the literature in the field, this paper addresses the most relevant topics referring to a selected set of relevant papers on each topic to substantiate the observations and conclusions that may guide the reader toward additional literature.

OBJECTIVES: Pulses (dry beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils) are significant sources of important nutrients and other bioactive components providing health benefits including improved weight status and gastrointestinal health and reduced risk of cancers and cardiovascular disease. However, recent data suggests the intake of pulses remains quite low. To support dietary guidance encouraging healthier diet patterns with higher intakes of plant-based foods, an updated perspective on pulse consumption and their impact on diet quality is needed. Therefore, we analyzed data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2014 for adults to compare intakes of pulse consumers and non-consumers and to explore the impact of increasing pulse consumption on diet quality in the US population. METHODS: Pulse consumers were identified as those respondents who consumed pulses on one or both days of intake from 272 pulse containing food codes. Consumers were divided into quartiles of consumption based on grams of pulses consumed. Differences in energy adjusted nutrient intakes between non-consumers and consumers were assessed. The diets of respondents were modeled to increase plant-based food intake by replacing 57 g of meat and 28 g of refined grain with 100 g of pulses. The nutrient composition of the 100 g of pulses added to the modified diets was based on a weighted average of all pulses consumed. Nutrient intakes of the modified diet were analyzed to compare nutrient intakes between the modeling scenario and reported intakes. RESULTS: Approximately 27% of adults consumed pulses with a mean intake of 72 g/d just slightly