New Year 2025 – Wishing long life with Lentils- Beyond the Metaphor

This year lentils are bringing us not just good luck but also a spark scientific innovation for the good of the planet.

For all their small size, lentils have been a dietary cornerstone for humanity for millennia and are increasingly considered a food of the future.

🌾 Adaptable to diverse climates and arid lands, lentils are “nature’s warriors”: thanks to their unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, they enhance soil fertility where they grow and significantly reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.

🥣 Despite being considered a “poor dish,” lentils have been a staple on people’s tables since ancient times. Mentioned in the Old Testament (Jacob gave them to Esau in exchange for his birthright – Genesis 25:29-34), they were regarded by the ancient Romans as a symbol of wealth—and, by extension, of good luck.

🌱 Recent studies have also begun exploring the capacity of lentils to emit biophotons during germination—a fascinating connection outward. Biophotons, first discovered in 1923 by Russian scientist Alexander G. Gurvich during experiments on onion roots, are extremely weak light emissions. While some researchers dismiss them
as mere byproducts, others propose that they may represent a communication pathway, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of nature (the way living beings are all connected) and inspiring scientific innovation (ref. ‘Il Cibo’ da ‘Il Domani’) .

🥗 Beyond their scientific intrigue, lentils teach us other valuable lessons. They are nutrient-dense and protein-rich, yet they lack the marketing clout on social media that has propelled other ingredients to fame.

Equally significant is how lentils—and other legumes—arrive on our plates. 🌍 The environmental impact of lentils is deeply tied to their source. Purchasing lentils without considering where and how far they were produced undermines their ecological potential. Lentils truly shine when they are locally grown and sustainably processed. The way we consume can make all the difference.
(ref. ‘Il Cibo’ da ‘Il Domani’).

Long life With Lentils!

ref. https://www.editorialedomani.it/fatti/le-lenticchie-sono-il-cibo-del-futuro-e-parlano-anche-tra-loro-nn5ijo4
#happy2025 #lentils #sustainablefood #foodsystems4people