Commodity: Green Lentils

Origin: Canada

Green lentils are divided into three market classes in Canada: large green, medium green, and small green

Nutritional Values
-Pulses, including lentils, are increasingly being used in healthy diets in order to promote general well-being and to reduce the risk of illness
-lentils are high in fibre, low in fat and cholesterol free. They are also high in protein, B vitamins, and minerals, low in sodium as well as being an excellent source of complex carbohydrates and vegetable protein
-beneficial in the prevention of coronary and cardiovascular disease, lowering blood cholesterol levels due to their high-fibre content
- beneficial effects on osteoporosis, the nervous and immune systems, and teeth.
-lentils can also help in the management of type-2 diabetes
-As a result of their low glycemic index of 55 or less, they have less of an effect on blood glucose than other foods containing carbohydrates.
-Lentils can also help to reduce blood lipids that may help some serious complications of diabetes
-being useful in diets for people with celiac disease.
-It can also be used in vegetarian diets due to their good source of iron and protein.
-high in fibre and the lowered risk of colon cancer.
-Lentils are an excellent source of the B vitamin folate which is an essential nutrient.
-Lentils also contain non nutritional components called phytochemicals, which have an antioxidant effect that may help fight against diseases like cancer and heart disease.

-Lentils are used almost exclusively for human consumption.
-Lentils are often used as a meat extender or as a meat substitute because of the high protein content and quality. They can be used in soups, stews, salads, casseroles, and vegetarian dishes.
-Lentils can also be used for livestock feed, however, only small amounts of low grade lentils are used for feed.