Common Adulterants in Pulses

Rarely any food available in the market is spared from adulteration today. One of the greatest sources of protein, fiber, and nutrition is pulses. Adding pulses to your everyday diet keeps you healthy. They are good for the heart and help manage diabetes and coeliac disease. But, are you getting the right source of nutrients from the pulses you consume everyday? Certainly not! You are consciously consuming adulterants! Yes, adulterants reduce the quality of pulses, giving naissance to curable and incurable diseases when consumed regularly.

Common adulterants in pulses and their harmful effects:

• Sand, marble chips, stones, filth; these adulterants affect the digestive tract
• Lathyrus sativus is mixed with khesari dal or other pulses; it causes crippling spastic paraplegia
• Asbestos in particulate or powder form (for polishing); it causes cancer
• Metanil yellow is added to old stocks of pulses to enhance color; it is carcinogenic and causes stomach disorders. It also causes testicular degeneration in the male if consumed for long
• Soluble coal tar dye is used to enhance quality and make the pulses look clean; it is highly injurious to health
• Khesari dal stones are often mixed with other pulses; continuous consumption of this dal cause paralysis of the limbs.

It is time we wake up and take a pledge to stop buying adulterated pulses. Buy pulses and other food items only from approved sources. Besides, do not keep stock of pulses for long. Ensure that the storage space is clean. If health is wealth and if you believe that a healthy mind rests in a healthy body, start consuming unadulterated pulses.