Diet analysis links higher pulse intake to lower heart disease and diabetes risk
New research from two William & Mary students has found that the risk of heart attack could be significantly lowered with one simple dietary change: increasing the intake of pulses. But what is a pulse? A food group with diverse options, pulses are edible seeds from plants in the legume family. Some examples include dry beans, chickpeas, lentils and dry peas.
A recent study by two William & Mary students has revealed that incorporating more pulses into one's diet may significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Pulses, which include dry beans, chickpeas, lentils and dry peas, are edible seeds from plants in the legume family. The research, published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition, found that even a single daily serving of pulses could lower the overall risk of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) by 19%.
The study, conducted by Tara Kamalakantha and Catherine Zavela, analyzed data from over 46,000 adults collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018. Despite the large sample size, the researchers noted that average pulse intake in the U.S. was below 10.5 grams per day, which is much lower than in other countries.
Zavela and Kamalakantha's research highlighted a major gap in existing literature: there was very little research on the connection between pulses and cardiometabolic disease outcomes.
After establishing a conceptual framework linking pulses to health outcomes, the students found that there was a measurable link between higher pulse intake and a lower prevalence of CMD among adults in the United States. However, it is important to note that the study's associations do not establish causality. Kamalakantha presented her findings at the American Society for Nutrition, where she won first place in the Early Career Poster Competition.
She credits her professor, Zach Conrad, for his support and resources, which allowed her to take ownership of the project and pursue publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
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