Proximate composition, nutritional profile and health benefits of legumes – A review

Author(s):  
Rajni Kamboj ◽  
Vikas Nanda

Legumes consumption is a usual and beneficial part of the human diet and contributing to health. Moreover, it is presently taking place a re-evaluation for its useful effects of consumption in the diet, which is the basis for various health claims. They are essential source of protein, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, micronutrients and various phytochemicals. Legumes have appreciable quantity of all the essential amino acids excluding sulphur containing amino acids, which can be balanced to combine with cereals in daily intake. Starch is the major stored carbohydrate followed by dietary fibre, simple sugars and oligosaccharides. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and iron are also present in legume seeds. Bioavailability of nutrients can be increased by soaking, sprouting and fermentation. Consumption of legumes reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers (colon, breast and prostate) and also helps to manage body weight due to its satiety value. FAO has chosen 2016 as the International Year of Pulses which will emphasize the health and environmental benefits of pulses. Nutritional composition, anti-nutritional factors and health benefits of legumes are summarised in the current review. 

Author(s):  
Anna Ostrowska ◽  
Magdalena Kozłowska ◽  
Danuta Rachwał ◽  
Piotr Wnukowski ◽  
Ewa Nebesny ◽  
...  

Dietary fibre has a beneficial effect on human health that is manifested, among other things, in a reduced risk of obesity, diabetes or neoplasms. Its numerous functional properties render it a desirable food additive. The objective of the research study was to assess the nutritional and functional properties of a novel rapeseed protein-fibre concentrate (RPFC) developed by a NapiFeryn BioTech company. The chemical composition, including the amino acid composition, and the functional properties of RPFC were compared with those of the soy fibre (SF) and pea fibre (PF) available on the market; the purpose of the comparison was to evaluate the potential of RPFC as a novel ingredient for use in food applications. The research study showed that RPFC contained significantly more protein than SF and PF. At the same time it was found that the level of total dietary fibre in RPFC was similar to the level of this ingredient in SF. What's more, RPFC was characterized by the highest contents of ash and phytic acid. Based on the analysis results of amino acids it was proved that the level of lysine was the highest in RPFC. The RPFC was characterized by a higher content of essential amino acids than PF and a lower content thereof than SF. RPFC was distinguished by good functional features, such as emulsifying activity, emulsion stability, and water and oil absorption capacity. It was showed that RPFC had suitable features to be used as a functional food ingredient in food products.


Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Christine Venjakob ◽  
Sara Leonhardt ◽  
Alexandra-Maria Klein

Nectar is crucial to maintain plant-pollinator mutualism. Nectar quality (nutritional composition) can vary strongly between individuals of the same plant species. The factors driving such inter-individual variation have however not been investigated closer. We investigated nectar quality of field scabious, Knautia arvensis in different grassland plant communities varying in species composition and richness to assess whether nectar quality can be affected by the surrounding plant community. We analyzed (with high performance liquid chromatography) the content of carbohydrates, overall amino acids, and essential amino acids. Amino acid and carbohydrate concentrations and proportions varied among plant individuals and with the surrounding plant community but were not related to the surrounding plant species richness. Total and individual carbohydrate concentrations were lowest, while proportions of the essential amino acids, valine, isoleucine, leucine (all phagostimulatory), and lysine were highest in plant species communities of the highest diversity. Our results show that K. arvensis nectar chemistry varies with the composition of the surrounding plant community, which may alter the taste and nutritional value and thus affect the plant’s visitor spectrum and visitation rate. However, the strong inter-individual variation in nectar quality requires additional studies (e.g., in semi-field studies) to disentangle different biotic and abiotic factors contributing to inter-individual nectar chemistry in a plant-community context.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 627
Author(s):  
Vida Šimat ◽  
Nariman Elabed ◽  
Piotr Kulawik ◽  
Zafer Ceylan ◽  
Ewelina Jamroz ◽  
...  

The oceans have been the Earth’s most valuable source of food. They have now also become a valuable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. The significance of marine organisms as a natural source of new substances that may contribute to the food sector and the overall health of humans are expanding. This review is an update on the recent studies of functional seafood compounds (chitin and chitosan, pigments from algae, fish lipids and omega-3 fatty acids, essential amino acids and bioactive proteins/peptides, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and minerals) focusing on their potential use as nutraceuticals and health benefits.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
A.K. Mugova ◽  
C.J. Zvidzai ◽  
R. Musundire

Armoured crickets are an important food source in some parts of Zimbabwe. These insects are abundant in some regions but however, they are under utilised and not much is known about their nutritional value. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional profile of the armoured cricket (Acanthoplus discoidalis). Armoured crickets were collected from a structured sampling framework in Mbire district Mashonaland Central province of Zimbabwe. Removal of the head and thorax, degutting and boiling were done. A proximate analysis was carried out followed by mineral, amino acid and fatty acid profiling of the prepared insects. Analyses were done on a dry basis. A. discoidalis contained 69.2% protein, 16.8% fat, 8.6% ash, 1.2% carbohydrate, 4.2% chitin and 454.3 Kcal/100 g energy. A 100 g dry weight quantity of insect contains 11.48 mg iron which is enough to meet the required daily intake of 10.0-20 mg/day for an adult. The zinc (4.37 mg/100 g dry weight) and phosphorus (491.4 mg/100 g dry weight) content in A. discoidalis almost meets the reference nutrient intake for adults. Essential amino acids, leucine (60.7 mg/g protein) had the highest concentration followed by phenylalanine+tyrosine (59.3 mg/g protein), valine (48.4 mg/g protein), lysine (46.7 mg/g protein), threonine (37.4 mg/g protein), isoleucine (26.4 mg/g protein), methionine+cysteine (20.9 mg/g protein) and histidine (16.5 mg/g protein) the least concentration. In total, 9 saturated fatty acids were determined of which stearic acid and palmitic acid had the highest concentrations of 2,034.5 mg/100 g and 2,005.3 mg/100 g respectively. Four mono unsaturated fatty acids were determined of which oleic acid and palmitoleic acid had the highest concentrations of 361.4 mg/100 g and 305.2 mg/100 g respectively. Four poly-unsaturated fatty acids were determined of which eicosapentaenoic and α-linolenic acid had the highest concentrations of 1,598.0 mg/100 g and 185.6 mg/100 g respectively. A. discoidalis is good source of protein, the minerals iron, zinc and phosphorus, some essential amino acids and poly-unsaturated fatty acids.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoseph Asmelash Gebru ◽  
Desta Berhe Sbhatu ◽  
Kwang-Pyo Kim

Teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) (Poaceae) is an annual crop with a very tiny grain. The crop is mainly cultivated in Ethiopia and Eritrea where it is used in preparing a pancake-like staple food called injera. Teff grain is the smallest of all whole flour grains in the world with a length of about 1.0 mm and a width of about 0.60 mm. The popularity of the crop is rapidly increasing throughout the world because of its attractive nutritional and functional properties. Thus, the crop is being successfully introduced and cultivated in many parts of the world including the USA, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The growing global demand for the grain is due to its gluten-free nature, high level of essential amino acids (EAA), high mineral content, low glycemic index (GI), high crude fiber content, longer shelf life, and slow staling of its bread products compared to that of wheat, sorghum, rice, barley, and maize. The grain is linked to several health benefits including prevention and treatment of diseases such as celiac disease, diabetes, and anemia. These call for huge research opportunities to explore the nutritional and functional properties of the grain.


1945 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Madden ◽  
F. W. Anderson ◽  
J. C. Donovan ◽  
G. H. Whipple

When blood plasma proteins are depleted by bleeding with return of red cells suspended in saline (plasmapheresis) it is possible to bring dogs to a steady state of hypoproteinemia and a constant level of plasma protein production if the diet nitrogen intake is controlled and limited. Such dogs are outwardly normal but have a lowered resistance to infection and intoxication and probably to vitamin deficiency. When the diet nitrogen is provided by certain mixtures of the ten growth essential amino acids plus glycine, given intravenously at a rapid rate, plasma protein production is good. The same mixture absorbed subcutaneously at a slower rate may be slightly better utilized. Fed orally the same mixture is better utilized and associated with a lower urinary nitrogen excretion. An ample amino acid mixture for the daily intake of a 10 kilo dog may contain in grams dl-threonine 1.4, dl-valine 3, dl-leucine 3, dl-isoleucine 2, l(+)-lysine·HCl·H2O 2.2, dl-tryptophane 0.3, dl-phenylalanine 2, dl-methionine 1.2, l(+)-histidine·HCl·H2O 1, l(+)-arginine·HCl 1, and glycine 2. Half this quantity is inadequate and not improved by addition of a mixture of alanine, serine, norleucine, proline, hydroxyproline, and tyrosine totalling 1.4 gm. Aspartic acid appears to induce vomiting when added to a mixture of amino acids. The same response has been reported for glutamic acid (8). Omission from the intake of leucine or of leucine and isoleucine results in negative nitrogen balance and rapid weight loss but plasma protein production may be temporarily maintained. It is possible that leucine may be captured from red blood cell destruction. Tryptophane deficiency causes an abrupt decline in plasma protein production. No decline occurred during 2 weeks of histidine deficiency but the urinary nitrogen increased to negative balance. Plasma protein production may be impaired during conditions of dietary deficiency not related to the protein or amino acid intake. Skin lesions and liver function impairment are described. Unidentified factors present in liver and yeast appear to be involved.


OSEANA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 52-60
Author(s):  
Diah Anggraini Wulandari

THE BENEFITS AND ROLE OF SQUID FOR HEALTH. Squids are rich in protein with a protein content 15-20%. Squids containing macro and micro minerals such as sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and selenium, besides that squid also comprise essential amino acids such as tryptophan, threonine, methionine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, and non-essential amino acids such as glutamic acid, aspartic acid, tyrosine, cysteine, serine, proline, glycine, arginine and histidine. Squid ink contain alkaloids that potential as anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial and anti-malaria agents. The benefit of Squids in the food industry are an enhancer of flavor and an artificial leather constituent in the biomedical field.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 008-013
Author(s):  
Faiza Iqbal ◽  
Muhammad Anees Ur Rehman ◽  
Mah Ahfaq

Yoghurt is a fermented dairy product with conspicuous consumption around the world due to its pronounced health benefits. Yoghurt is defined as the food produced by culturing the milk in controlled conditions that contain lactic acid-producing bacteria (Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus. Consumer acceptability of Yoghurt is high due to its health benefits and sensory attributes. It provides 40% calcium and 30-45% phosphorus of daily requirement. All essential amino acids (proline and glycine) are present in Yoghurt. The biological value of milk proteins present in Yoghurt is high. It is considered a rich source of high-quality protein. Health benefits associated with Yoghurt are to improve the gastrointestinal digestion and immune system of humans. Yoghurt is enriched with proteins, carbohydrates, minerals (calcium and phosphorus), and vitamins (vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate and cobalamin). Yoghurt protein and its peptides have many physiological impacts as well as nutritional value. The only deficiency in Yoghurt is a lack of dietary fibre. The review emphasizes the addition of dietary fibre in Yoghurt to boost up its health benefits.


2012 ◽  
Vol 108 (S1) ◽  
pp. S11-S26 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Jukanti ◽  
P. M. Gaur ◽  
C. L. L. Gowda ◽  
R. N. Chibbar

Chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.) is an important pulse crop grown and consumed all over the world, especially in the Afro-Asian countries. It is a good source of carbohydrates and protein, and protein quality is considered to be better than other pulses. Chickpea has significant amounts of all the essential amino acids except sulphur-containing amino acids, which can be complemented by adding cereals to the daily diet. Starch is the major storage carbohydrate followed by dietary fibre, oligosaccharides and simple sugars such as glucose and sucrose. Although lipids are present in low amounts, chickpea is rich in nutritionally important unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic and oleic acids. β-Sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol are important sterols present in chickpea oil. Ca, Mg, P and, especially, K are also present in chickpea seeds. Chickpea is a good source of important vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, folate and the vitamin A precursor β-carotene. As with other pulses, chickpea seeds also contain anti-nutritional factors which can be reduced or eliminated by different cooking techniques. Chickpea has several potential health benefits, and, in combination with other pulses and cereals, it could have beneficial effects on some of the important human diseases such as CVD, type 2 diabetes, digestive diseases and some cancers. Overall, chickpea is an important pulse crop with a diverse array of potential nutritional and health benefits.


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