Tag: Famine food

Despite being cultivated for millennia, the resilient legume Khesari dal has earned a variety of names across the globe. This nutrient-rich pulse, scientifically known as *Lathyrus sativus*, is recognized as a 'famine food' for its ability to grow in harsh, drought-prone conditions where other crops fail.

Historically documented in famines as far back as 400 BC, the serious medical condition caused by Kesari dal is a neurodegenerative disorder known as lathyrism. This disease is triggered by a neurotoxin found in the pulse, which, upon prolonged and excessive consumption, can cause severe, irreversible paralysis of the lower limbs.

Epidemics of neurolathyrism often followed periods of famine throughout history, when the drought-resistant grass pea (*Lathyrus sativus*) became the primary or sole food source for impoverished populations. This debilitating neurological disease, causing irreversible paralysis of the legs, is a historical and modern-day reminder of the dangers posed by toxic compounds within certain food plants.