Lentala of the South Seas: The Romantic Tale of a Lost Colony

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a b c d e f g h i j Erskine, William, ed. (2009). The lentil: botany, production and uses. Wallingford, UK: CABI. ISBN 978-1-84593-487-3. OCLC 435462765. a b Sauer, Jonathan D. (2017). Historical Geography of Crop Plants: A Select Roster. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-44062-2. The primary progenitor of the cultigen is evidently L. orientalis native to the Near East; the other species may have contributed some genetic diversity to the crop. L. culinaris ( L. esculentus), the domesticate, differs from the wild species in having indehiscent pods, due to a single recessive gene, and nondormant seeds. Lentils contain tannins, which can bind to proteins and prevent the absorption of certain nutrients ( 23). Lentils were a chief part of the diet of ancient Iranians, who consumed lentils daily in the form of a stew poured over rice.

The low levels of readily digestible starch (5 percent) and high levels of slowly digested starch make lentils of potential value to people with diabetes. [18] [19] The remaining 65% of the starch is a resistant starch classified as RS1. [20] A minimum of 10% in starch from lentils escapes digestion and absorption in the small intestine (therefore called "resistant starch"). [21] Additional resistant starch is synthesized from gelatinized starch, during cooling, after lentils are cooked. [22] Zhang, Bing; Deng, Zeyuan; Tang, Yao; etal. (2014). "Fatty acid, carotenoid and tocopherol compositions of 20 Canadian lentil cultivars and synergistic contribution to antioxidant activities". Food Chemistry. 161: 296–304. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.04.014. ISSN 0308-8146. PMID 24837953.

The conditions under which lentils are grown differ across different growing regions. In the temperate climates lentils are planted in the winter and spring under low temperatures and vegetative growth occurs in later spring and the summer. Rainfall during this time is not limited. In the subtropics, lentils are planted under relatively high temperatures at the end of the rainy season, and vegetative growth occurs on the residual soil moisture in the summer season. Rainfall during this time is limited. In West Asia and North Africa, some lentils are planted as a winter crop before snowfall. Plant growth occurs during the time of snow melting. Under such cultivation, seed yields are often much higher. [14] Seedbed requirements and sowing [ edit ] Though lentils, like all legumes, contain some antinutrients, dehulling and cooking the seeds greatly reduces the presence of antinutrients ( 23). Summary Some of the polyphenols in lentils, such as procyanidin and flavanols, are known to have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects ( 6, 7, 8). Lentils improve the physical properties of soils and increase the yield of succeeding cereal crops. Biological nitrogen fixation or other rotational effects could be the reason for higher yields after lentils . [14] Climate requirements [ edit ]

When tested in the lab, the polyphenols in lentils were able to stop cancer cell growth, especially on cancerous skin cells ( 6). Though different types of lentils may vary slightly in their nutrient content, 1 cup (198 grams) of cooked lentils generally provides the following ( 4):In 2021, global production of lentils was 5.6 million tonnes, led by Canada with 29% and India with 27% of the world total (table). [9] Saskatchewan is the most productive growing region in Canada, producing 95% of the national total. [10] In India, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh together produce more than 70% of the total. [11] Cultivation [ edit ] History [ edit ] Eating lentils is associated with an overall lower risk of heart disease, as it has positive effects on several risk factors ( 1, 12).