Some toxic substances are naturally present in some pulses. These include trypsin inhibitors and haemagglutinins. Trypsin inhibitor, as the name indicates, interferes with digestion of proteins by inhibiting the action of the enzyme trypsin. Haemagglutinins combine with haeme and thus destroy haemoglobin.
Fortunately, for us both of these toxic substances are destroyed by heat, which is used in normal cooking process.
Broad beans contain some toxic substance. When these beans are consumed raw a disease called favism occurs. This disease is characterized by haemolytic anemia. Since human beings do not consume broad beans raw, they are not likely to suffer from favism.
Kesari dal contains a toxic substance. It was observed that during draught conditions, only this bean was grown, when other crops failed. Therefore kesari dal is used as a staple food during the drought period. When this dal is consumed over a long time paralysis of lower limbs occurs in males. This is known as lathyrism. Therefore it is important to ensure that the intake of this dal must be restricted.
