A food combination made from beans (aka legumes), nuts, and seeds. Commonly known as PULSE in Biblical lands, food scientists report pulse is high high high in nutrient density.

(Hang with me for a few minutes, and then I’ll get to the point.)

Legumes are the backbone of pulse and they include whole peas, split peas, peanuts, black beans, red beans, kidney beans, navy beans, lentils, garbanzo beans, and Mung beans, to name a few. They all are high in fiber, minerals, and vitamins.

Choose a few of these, mix them with nuts (almonds are excellent because they’re high in calcium), and seeds (pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds for instance), and you have pulse. You can even add chopped dates for extra flavor, fiber, and vitamins.

Once you have your combination together, you soak it to remove anti-nutritive compounds and to make everything easier to digest. (You’ll find a recipe and instructions below.)

Once your pulse mixture is soaked and drained well, you DO NOT cook it. Instead, you lightly chop it in a food processor or blender (careful not to over-do it; you want things chopped, not pureed and gooey).

Now you’re ready to add this powerful raw food to salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups, stews, and even green smoothies. Pulse will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. But hopefully it’s consumed faster than that.

Thank you for hanging in with me. Because here’s why I’m talking about PULSE. When it comes to fighting food addictions or wanting a fast track to improved health, pulse is your ticket! It’s the “improved health” feature, though, that’s actually my point.

Last week I told you about the battle my husband and I have had with RSV. This vicious virus can typically take from 10 days to three weeks from which to fully recover. But I’m up and around after five or six days—not ready to run a mile, but able to do light chores and breathe without coughing my brains out. I’m also able to sleep comfortably at night.

I’m absolutely convinced the reason for this quicker recovery is due to years of eating nutrient-dense foods, such as pulse. Science says “We are what we eat.” Therefore, if we eat foods that improve health, then we’ll end up with stronger immune systems and improved health.

Do I sound like an info-mercial for this historic food? I’m OK with that—I’ve discovered why Daniel requested pulse, when offered “the king’s food.” (See Daniel 1:12-16, KJV of the BIBLE.) And I intend to spend the rest of my life including pulse in my weekly diet and preaching “the gospel of pulse.” I feel duty-bound. It’s such a simple, delicious, and no-nonsense way to improve health and protect the immune system! (Without any side-affects…novel idea.)

BTW: The latest health research is concluding the viruses that we’re experiencing today are getting not just more contagious than ever before, but meaner and tougher in terms of recovery. We can see that prioritizing immunity protection is a wise idea.

OK, ‘nough said. If you’re interested in jumping on Daniel’s bandwagon with me, then here’s the above-promised recipe for the ancient food known as pulse. It’s from the terrific book, Original Fast Foods by Jim and Colleen Simmons.

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    Alice Osborne
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
    Email the author! alice@dvo.com