u/jay_prakash

I came across a recent review on the role of pulses: lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas and soy in healthy and sustainable diets, and it made me think about something much deeper than food.

The review highlights that pulses are rich in protein, dietary fibre and various bioactive compounds. Their fibre can influence the gut microbiome and increase the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are involved in gut and metabolic health. Some studies also report improvements in markers such as blood glucose and cholesterol, although the authors emphasise that stronger long-term human studies are still needed.

There is also the sustainability aspect.

Pulses generally have a lower environmental footprint than animal-based protein sources, and legumes can fix nitrogen, helping reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers.

So scientifically, there is a strong case for giving pulses a much bigger place in our diets.

But here comes the interesting question:

If we know these things, why don't we change accordingly?

We often think that if we give a person enough facts, they will automatically make the right decision.

But do they?

We know smoking is harmful, yet people smoke.

We know excessive consumption is harmful, yet we keep consuming.

We know climate change is happening, yet we continue many habits that contribute to it.

We know animals experience suffering, yet we can continue eating them without seriously questioning the habit.

So perhaps the problem is not always a lack of information.

Perhaps the deeper problem is conditioning.

From childhood, we are told what is normal to eat, what is necessary, what is tasty, what gives strength and what people like us are supposed to consume.

Then the mind creates reasons around these existing desires.

First comes the attachment.

Then comes the justification.

It gives an interesting perspective and that is:

Desire can distort our relationship with facts.

We don't necessarily ask, “What is true?”

We often ask:

"What truth allows me to continue doing what I already want to do?”

That is a very different question.

The scientific article doesn't tell us that pulses are a magical food or that one review proves everything about diet. In fact, the researchers themselves call for better long-term human studies.

But perhaps the value of such research is not only in giving us more information.

It gives us an opportunity to look at ourselves.

When evidence challenges my habits, do I investigate honestly?

Or do I immediately look for an argument that protects my habit?

That may be the real challenge, not learning more facts, but becoming free enough to look at facts without asking them to serve our desires.

We already know a lot.

The question is: why doesn't knowing become living?

Ref: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260809/Why-pulses-could-play-a-bigger-role-in-healthy-and-sustainable-diets.aspx

Photo credit: Sabik Nasim at Pexels

It is only our understanding which had to advance to build a relationship with the animals. On the occasion of World Elephant Day, let us see what does elephant cognition looks like.

Elephants have precise motor control in their trunk that competes with the capabilities of human hands and can pick up an egg and put it down without breaking it.

They can generate sounds which can reach another elephant up to a distance of 10km. There is also evidence that they might possess excellent mapping, navigation and memory skills which allows to explore areas hundreds of kilometers that were travelled as far as a decade back. The research on this aspect of elephant is still undergoing which will definitively establish the facts.

Elephants also possess complex distinguishing capabilities upon visual pattern, sounds and scents. The fact that they can differentiate a group of humans beyond the species identity reveals their complex cognitive skills. They can perceive which group poses threat to them and which are harmless.

All of the above indicates that we can not simply dismiss other beings not worthy of existing on this planet just because we do not understand them. But our actions today tell a different story. Rapid deforestation leading to habitat loss is a major species level threat and not only individual harm to elephants among other beings.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AcharyaPrashant_AP/s/kCk6rZ0gNm

This reddit post reveals the conflict and the threat that elephants face from our actions.

Is it our lack of love that keeps us from understanding other beings and build a healthy relationship with them? Is it the reason behind the disregard we show to their habitat?

Why do we place our conveniences above the existence of their whole being?

Source - Elephant cognition in primate perspective at https://comparative-cognition-and-behavior-reviews.org/vol4_byrne_bates_moss/

How do you achieve it incase you do?

How do you achieve it incase you do?

How do you achieve it in case you do?

Where do these people get their justice theory from?