Lentils are already grown commercially in the UK on a small scale, amongst a group of farmers spearheaded by the company Hodmedods. We wanted to investigate the feasibility of growing them in the garden. Lentils grew quite easily in most people’s gardens with few problems. They are a low growing, sprawling plant with small pea like flowers.
Over the next few weeks six farms in Suffolk, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire and Sussex will harvest a range of organic and non-organic lentils. UPDATE, May 2021: since our first lentil harvest in 2017 we’ve continued to trial lentil production in the UK and the fifth year’s crop is now growing .
The lentil is a low growing bushy plant, producing pods, which most commonly contain two lentils. Lentils are legumes so will form nodules that harbour the nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria. They will grow on a range of soil types. They are reasonably cold tolerant but their ability to tolerate frost varies with variety and the stage of growth.
The lentils will go on sale in the autumn. Photograph: Handout The lentils will go on sale in the autumn. Photograph: Handout The UK’s first commercial crops of lentils, grown on farms in Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Suffolk, Sussex and Wiltshire are being harvested this week before going on sale in the autumn.
Can lentils lower blood pressure?
Lentils – Just 100 grams of split red lentils has more potassium than a banana. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study reported that a diet rich in pulses (including lentils) and whole grains was associated with lowering blood pressure . Try making this easy Lentil Lemon soup.
Do beans and lentils help lower blood pressure?
Numerous studies have shown that eating beans and lentils may help lower high blood pressure levels. A review of 8 studies that included 554 people indicated that, when exchanged for other foods, beans and lentils significantly lowered SBP and average blood pressure levels in people with and without hypertension ( 16 ).
Then, what are the best foods to lower blood pressure?
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study reported that a diet rich in pulses (including lentils) and whole grains was associated with lowering blood pressure. Try making this easy Lentil Lemon soup. Potatoes – Potassium has been shown to help lower high blood pressure and the most common food associated with potassium is a banana.
How many lentils are in a pod?
Low-growing and typically yielding no more than two lentils in each short pod, they need a warm, dry autumn to ripen for harvest. Yet they are thought to have been one of the earliest cultivated ‘legumes’ in the UK, with traces found on prehistoric sites.
What are the health benefits of lentils?
According to the book, Healing Foods, lentils of all types are extremely high in molybdenum and iron, making them an excellent food for helping to oxygenate the blood and aid the release of cellular energy. The insoluble fibre on lentils helps to keep cholesterol and blood pressure at healthy levels.
Do lentils reduce circulating LDL-C and BP in the SHR?
Although all pulses reduced circulating TC and LDL-C levels in the SHR, only lentils significantly reduced the rise in BP and large-artery remodelling in the SHR, but had no effect on PWV. These results indicate that the effects of lentils on arterial remodelling and BP in the SHR are independent of circulating LDL-C levels.