Brown Horse Gram/Kollu/Kulthi, 400g

HEALTH BENEFITS OF HORSE GRAM – KOLLU

Horse gram is not as popular as black gram, red gram and green gram, but is still one of the most nutritious legumes (Macrotyloma uniflorum).

Known by several regional names, the kulthi bean, hurali or Madras gram was common food for horses and cattle. Horse gram is the most protein-rich lentil found on the planet. It is high-powered and hence used as feed for horses before races.

The US National Academy of Sciences has identified this legume as a promising food source for the future. This legume seems to have been domesticated during the 2nd millennium BCE, according to researchers at University College, London. Its remarkable ability to thrive in parched environments makes the horse gram shrub a highly capable candidate, to meet food and nutritional requirements in malnourished populations.

Horse gram is a legume that grows and propagates in arid regions, such as in the drylands in southern, central and northern parts of tropical countries namely India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Horse gram is a climbing herb, having leaves with tiny leaflets in triplets and white coloured flowers. The short and slender stem, upon maturing and developing, bears flattened small seeds that are red, brown or black and resemble the shape of a curved beak.

This minute natural seed offers some marvellous advantages for overall well-being, being densely packed with vital nutrients. Horse gram, besides being intrinsically vast in carbohydrate and protein content, also abounds in essential trace minerals like iron, molybdenum and calcium. These ensure optimal energy, muscle strength, regulated red blood cell synthesis and fortified bones. Moreover, it also supplies ample amounts of the B vitamins, that guarantee the normal metabolic functioning of cells.