Legumes Pt. 2

What East Asian vine is invasive in South East USA and why were they brought?

Kuzu/Kudzu was brought as an ornamental plant and to prevent soil erosion. But the root is eaten as a starch in East Asia.

What is the species name of Black licorice? Where is it native and what is it used for?

Glycyrrhiza glabra. Native to Western Asia and the root extract is used as a flavoring

In 2020 a Boston construction worker died from eating black licorice, Why?

Glycyrrhizin is responsible for the sweetness but it causes the sodium levels to rise and potassium levels fall in the body. This can cause high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. So the FDA only allows for 3.1% of food’s content to have glycyrrhizin and 2 ounces a day for 2 weeks can cause heart rhythm problem.

What is the other name for the Petai, and why does it have this name? Who is their natural pollinators?

Stink bean, because the bean has sulfur-containing defensive compounds. But cooking detoxifies this. Bats.

What is the genus name for Grass peas and why did it get this name?

Lathrus. It contains ODAP, which is responsible for motor neuron degeneration called Lathyrism. This causes paralysis and muscle atrophy of lower limbs. And were eaten in high concentration during famines.

What sort of survival pressure led to diversity in the Legume family?

Short on nitrogen with the symbiosis with rhizobium and their large seeds, because of their compeition pressures by insects.

Why do animals fed a diet of raw beans actually lose weight?

The protease inhibitors, lectins, and cyanide-generating compounds are not disabled when eaten raw. So animals are being poisoned and will loose weight by eating raw beans.

Where can the different cultivars of Lupine be found? And where were they eaten?

Eurasia and Americas. Cultivated for food in Mediterranean and Africa.

There is both bitter and sweet Lupine grown, why are both cultivars grown?

Sweet are for eating without a lot of processing because they have low alkaloids. Bitter contains those toxic alkaloids but are resistant to insect attacks and need less pesticides.

Why do many types of Lupin seeds need to be soaked in water for up to several days?

Leeches out toxic alkaloids.

Why do the oligosaccharides (and cell wall cement) in beans cause gas build-up in the intestines? What is an example of the oligosaccharide?

Human digestive enzymes cannot digest the hemicellulose molecules in the cell wall. Raffinose

Why does eating sprouted beans or fermented bean products reduce the amount of gas build up in the intestines?

Digestive flora have Alpha-Galactosidase enzyme that can digest Raffinose, decreasing gas when eaten.

What is the species name to the Common Bean? And where is it native to?

Phaseolus vulgaris. Native to Southwestern Mexico

Where is Peanuts native to?

South America, in Andes

In what way did George Washington Carver transform US agriculture?

Introduced and promoted peanut cultivation in areas formally dedicated to cotton. Supports farms without use of slaves and brought nitrogen back to the soil.

What is the effect of fauvism in the human body and why might it have been an advantageous genetic trait in the past?

In the past a G6PD enzyme deficiency makes people suseptible to lysis and can protect against fatal malarial infection. Fava beans contain vicine a strongly oxidizing alkaloid that causes lysis leading to the person becoming anemic.

How does the composition of soybeans and peanuts differ from that of most beans and peas?

25-50% oil content. Highly compacted for storing calories per volume.

What happens to the isoflavones in soybeans when we digest them?

Isoflavones is a phytoestrogen and resemble estrogen. And the consumption of soy products can reduce prostate cancer.

What is the possible benefit of soybean saponins in our diet?

Absorb cholesterol and lower blood cholesterol levels.

What is the fundamental difference between how soymilk is coagulated to make soymilk skin verses how soymilk is coagulated to make tofu?

Soymilk skin is the heating of soymilk and removing the skin. Tofu is curdled soymilk and salted.

What is the fundamental process that is involved in making all four of these products : soy sauce, miso, tempeh, and natto?

fermentation

What are the two fermented soy products that maintains the integrity of the seed?

Tempeh: fungal hyphae threads in blocks, and Natto: long chain of sucrose.