A Michelin guide reviewer described it as having a ‘buzzy vibe’
Cambridge is the perfect place for a foodie to visit, with so many different cuisines on offer in the historic city. There are some cheaper places that are the perfect place for students to eat at, or if you’re feeling like spending some cash, Cambridge also offers some more bougie options.
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One place to visit that offers some of the best quality food and is in the “heart of Cambridge city centre” is Mercado Central. This highly-rated Spanish restaurant features in the Michelin guide, and for any foodies out there, they’ll know this means this place is the real deal.
Mercado Central opened in Green Street in 2019 and it’s just a stone’s throw from the historic Trinity Street. It serves a Spanish-influenced menu with high quality ingredients sourced from the British Isles and Spain.
In 2021 when it was one of six Cambridge restaurants to feature in the Michelin guide, the reviewer described it as having a “buzzy vibe”. They also said it was based in a “brightly decorated townhouse” with a “cheery tiled kitchen and fresh fish display”.
Not only did the Michelin reviewer praise the restaurant, but many of its other customers are big fans too.
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One person described Mercado as a “five star” restaurant. Another person said the staff were “friendly and efficient” and that they serve “generous portions”. Another satisfied customer said the food was “absolutely superb”.
The average cost of a meal at the restaurant is between £30 and £50.
Super flu is not a medical term, and it does not mean the virus has become harder to treat, just that people are yet to build up immunity against it.
Flu vaccines are updated annually to ensure they are a good match for the type of flu circulating. Influenza viruses constantly mutate and experts have to predict these changes ahead of time.
This year’s vaccine has had a few tweaks, including one to better match subclade K.
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It is not clear when flu will hit this year, and whether it will be a bad season. But experts often look to southern hemisphere countries, like Australia and New Zealand, to gain a better understanding of how the UK could be affected.
Their flu season peaks in July or August, and these countries have so far had a relatively mild year in terms of cases.
Dr Amanda Doyle from NHS England said it was best to be cautious.
“With the NHS experiencing its busiest summer on record, staff have started preparing for this winter earlier than ever – and with services already under significant pressure, it is vital that everyone offered the vaccine comes forward.”
The report found nine planned pieces of Executive legislation have yet to be put to the Assembly
The failure of Stormont ministers to agree a budget is “catastrophic” for public services in Northern Ireland, a think tank report has said.
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The Pivotal tracker report also warned that with seven months until the Assembly dissolves, Stormont faces a “rush” to pass key legislation, including the flagship Good Jobs Bill.
The independent think tank’s report, Running Out Of time: The Performance Of The Northern Ireland Executive in 2026, argues that ministers have struggled to work together on shared challenges.
It said: “Increasing tensions risk allowing Northern Ireland’s social and economic problems to deteriorate further.”
Devolved ministers have failed to agree a budget for the current financial year, with departments operating on contingency budgets since April.
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Ministers have consistently made the point that they need more cash from the Treasury to address a funding crisis facing public services in the region.
Launching the report, Pivotal director Ann Watt said in the past seven months, the Executive had made “pockets of progress but ultimately fall short in some big-picture ways”.
She said: “Deciding a budget is a basic element of good governance. The inability to do so is a serious failing.
“Northern Ireland has not had a multi-year budget in over a decade, which has restricted planning for public service delivery and transformation.
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“The absence of even a single year budget at present is catastrophic for public services.”
Ms Watt also raised concern that some “flagship areas of policy are at risk of stalling”.
She said: “There is a big difference between the planned legislative programme and the number of Executive Bills that have come before the Assembly.
“The Executive appears increasingly fragmented and this clearly has an impact on its effectiveness.
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“Instead of divisions and distrust, ministers need to find a path towards unity, common purpose and shared responsibility for improving services for the public.
“Right now, the public struggles to see the difference Stormont is making in their day-to-day lives.
“There is a risk that the election means more point-scoring and growing divisions along party lines.”
The think tank said the Good Jobs Bill faces a “race against time” to be passed.
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Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald’s proposed legislation aims to reform terms of employment, pay and benefits, work-life balance and the trade union framework.
However, the DUP has maintained the Bill requires more work and has not backed it being brought to the Assembly to start its legislative process.
The Pivotal report said it is not the only major piece of legislation at risk of “falling by the wayside”. It said nine planned pieces of Executive legislation have yet to be put to the Assembly.
The report said this includes the 16-18s in Education or Training Bill, which was in the legislative programme for 2025-26 and still has not been tabled, and the Race Equality Bill which is also yet to be introduced.
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Pivotal said other major policy goals are at “risk”, including the expansion of Magee College and the development of Casement Park.
It also said there is “still no plan to properly invest” in the wastewater system.
Pivotal said: “With no budget agreed, several Stormont departments face huge overspending in the current year – including shortfalls of around £250 million in education and £800 million in health.”
The think tank said there had been action in some areas, including education reforms and reducing backlogs in courts.
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It added: “Looking at the performance of the Executive as a whole, many previous failures in behaviours and cultures have continued – political point-scoring often crowds out discussion of substantive issues, difficult or unpopular decisions are postponed rather than addressed, and others are blamed for problems rather than the Executive taking responsibility for solutions itself.”
And sure enough, it looks set to be as explosive as hoped when their nuptials end in catastrophe next week, with actress Michelle Collins – who plays Cindy – warning that fans can expect her character to ‘go for Max big time’ after his secrets erupt.
Recent scenes on the BBC soap have seen the pair bring forward their nuptials from New Year’s Day to this month, opting to share their wedding date with fellow Walford couple Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) and Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson).
Turns out, that will be a decision to regret.
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As the big day arrives, Max has gone AWOL, much to his family’s panic, who try to track him down before Cindy finds out about his disappearing act.
Max and Linda argue (Picture: BBC)
‘Hell hath no fury like Cindy’s scorn!’ (Picture: BBC)
Eventually, he turns up hungover at Peacock Palace, where he ends up getting into a blazing row with his former flame Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), during which it all comes out about his affair with Priya.
Linda, who has been secretly harbouring feelings for Max herself, is disgusted that he has reverted to type, and he slinks off to the car lot where he finds Priya.
She’s furious when he tells her that Linda now knows about what they’ve been up to, but their argument ends up being overheard by Max’s daughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa).
Feeling let down by her cheating dad yet again, Lauren refuses to attend the wedding, and word soon spreads to Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), who soon give Max a roasting over his behaviour. However, they still manage to get him to the wedding venue on time.
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Max has been having an affair with Ravi’s love interest Priya (Picture: BBC/Metro)
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But just as Max and Cindy are about to say their vows, Linda and Priya arrive, and chaos quickly erupts.
Teasing the drama ahead, Michelle Collins tells Metro: ‘Hell hath no fury like Cindy’s scorn! God help Priya is all I can say.’
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The star also suggests that Cindy could seek the ultimate revenge on Max, who we already know is central to the New Year’s Day episode, with this January’s flash-forward episode revealing he will find himself arrested and with someone threatening to shoot Lauren and Oscar.
‘[Cindy] knows how to use a gun – she’s used a gun before,’ Michelle recalls. ‘I wouldn’t put anything past Cindy.
‘You do not mess with Cindy. She loves hard, but she also will get revenge. Her revenge will be really hard as well.’
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 7th September at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
Here’s what the stars have in store for your day (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Entering September, Saturn and Neptune are in retrograde, creating a sense of pressure and unease. This productive month could be off to a rocky start.
Gemini, Cancer and Virgo, conflicting perspectives could arise today. Try to use these to productive ends.
Keep looking forward, despite tensions that the cosmos bestows on you. This unusual energy will soon pass.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Tuesday September 1, 2026.
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Aries
March 21 to April 20
As we enter September, the Moon in your sign is face-to-face with the diplomatic energies of Venus. This encourages you to choose your words with care, particularly amid the challenging tension between your ruler Mars and the restrictive Saturn. So, whilst usually you might wish to power forward, this new month may start more tentatively for you, Aries.
Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications.
April 21 to May 21
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Someone else’s changing moods could leave you wondering where you stand. Rather than reacting, give things a little time. The intense pressure between Mars and Saturn suggests that forcing an issue will only create more resistance. Indeed, quiet persistence and a practical approach can see you accomplish more than getting drawn into an unnecessary conflict.
A friend or group may have different priorities from yours today. And whilst lovely Venus encourages cooperation, strict Saturn’s clash with the go-getting Mars reminds you that patience can be more effective than trying to prove a point. The issue may be that something you closely identify with, be it a principle or financially, is one you are reluctant to budge on.
You may be eager to make progress professionally, but obstacles slow your momentum. Don’t see this as a setback, but as an opportunity to double check your plans. Mars in your sign is making you highly determined, but perhaps impatient, and as restrictive Saturn squares Mars, you likely can’t rush. Look to things step by step. Once you accept this, the tension will ease.
You may have been surprised by how old issues or grievances have come up of late. If there is a current situation where it feels someone is being unfair, as Mars and Saturn clash, it can be difficult not to simmer with resentment. If need be, look to talk to a trusted friend. Their perspective might not fully chime with yours but could help you to see a different way forward.
The collective energies in Leo over the last month have likely given you some different perspectives on old issues. This may have seen some old hurts released too. The area you can apply these insights to as you enter September may be around group dynamics. Where things flow freely and light, you can see the opportunities; where not, you may prefer your space.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
Relationships are firmly in focus, with the Moon opposing Venus in your sign. While you naturally seek harmony, today suggests that someone may test your patience. Listen carefully before responding and try to avoid being defensive. Your talent for meeting people halfway is in the mix, but Mars is bringing out a more assertive part of your nature, and you may use it.
Your workload or daily demands could feel more onerous. Rather than trying to tackle everything at once, focus on the priorities. Demanding Saturn encourages steady effort, even if progress seems slow. This is going to be the case for some time to come, so where possible, look to give yourself occasional breaks. If you don’t, you could end up becoming resentful.
Your ruler Jupiter is roaring through your sister sign of Leo and pushing to showcase that side of you that loves to open up and be adventurous and bold. So why might it feel things aren’t flowing? Well, it’s likely because of a bruising battle between Mars and Saturn, and for you, whatever expansive plans you have, ensure they are well planned, particularly financially.
Family or domestic strands may require a little diplomacy today – especially should people have different expectations. With your ruler Saturn trying to put the celestial handbrake on Mars, this might be seen by those close to you as you looking to control things. Diplomatic Venus chimes in to urge you to keep things light, so look to lead rather than impose your will.
Conversations may become more emotionally charged than expected, making it important to think before speaking. A carefully chosen phrase can achieve much more than a blunt opinion. Yet despite this, you could have a brilliant connection with someone, where your ideas mutually spark one another, and in a way that could stand the test of time.
With Saturn and Neptune in retrograde, using resources carefully is to the fore. Yet, if you do have an idea or plan that you have thought carefully through and want to forge forward, don’t think you shouldn’t. Mars’ influence on the day can mean you find something hard to resist, but either your budget or someone close to you may make it difficult to get.
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
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Kenneth Wilson, 70, went fishing on Sunday but has not been seen or heard from since and concerns are growing.
A desperate search has been launched for a man who vanished after going fishing at an Inverness loch.
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Kenneth Wilson is believed to have gone fishing at Lochan an Eoin Ruadha on Sunday, August 30. The 70-year-old has been seen or heard from since, prompting police to launch a desperate missing person’s search in his absence.
Kenneth’s vehicle has been traced a short distance from the loch, which lies on the Ashie Moor, between Loch Ness and Loch Duntelchaig, two miles southeast of the village of Dores.
Kenneth is described as being 5ft 10, with a large build, white hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing glasses, black trousers and brown walking boots.
Police Scotland continue to hunt for Kenneth as worries mount for his safety and welfare. Anyone with any insight as to where he might be, or who may have spotted him near the loch, is being urged to get in touch.
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Sergeant Lewis Macleod said: “As time passes, our concern for Kenneth’s wellbeing continues to grow.
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“Searches are ongoing and we are appealing for anyone with any knowledge of his whereabouts, or who may have seen him near to the loch, to please come forward.
“Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident 3018 of 31 August, 2026.”
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At a memorial service Rabbi Daniel Walker remembered Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz who were killed not far from where he spoke during a terror attack last year
00:08, 01 Sep 2026Updated 00:16, 01 Sep 2026
As Rabbi Daniel Walker rose to his feet hundreds of people stood with him and applauded. They were united in grief, remembering the awful events of Yom Kippur terror attack on Heaton Park synagogue.
But at a memorial service tonight they were also determined to celebrate the community’s strength and resilience. Standing not far from the spot where two worshippers Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, were killed and three others were injured as they tried to defend the synagogue from terrorist Jihad al-Shamie on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on October 2 last year, Rabbi Walker paid tribute to his friends, two men he described as ‘very different’.
“I think you can see that,” he said gesturing to the photos hung on the wall behind him. “Melvin with his trademark wry smile, Adrian with his quieter smile.”
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“If you didn’t know Melvin you probably aren’t from Manchester,” he said to laughter. “On the other hand very few of us had the privilege of knowing Adrian. I consider that one of the great privileges of being a rabbi here that I got to know Adrian.
“But what was similar about them was their ability light up a room, their ability to show care and affection to everybody from all walks of life… Remembering them means emulating them.”
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In a moving speech of quiet, dignified emotion Rabbi Walker also told how when he was first allowed back inside the synagogue in the days after the attack it appeared as though it had been ‘frozen in time’.
“After we were evacuated we weren’t given a chance to take anything with us,” he said. “So when I came in here I saw the Shul frozen in time as if abandoned.
“It was a painful sight because inevitably the prayer books were open. When we finish using them we close them. To leave them open is an act of disrespect. Seeing them all sitting here open, that was just one of the many things that hurt.”
Rabbi Walker then called on those gathered to stand ‘proud, loud and uncowed as Jews’ and also revealed that the synagogue is writing a new Torah scroll in Adrian and Melvin’s memory.
“We at Heaton Park have for the last year lived by this principle: To remember is to do good,” he added.
Earlier Angela Rayner, Secretary of State State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, told the memorial service the ‘poison’ of antisemitism must never be ‘normalised’ .
She added: “The horror and fear in a place of prayer on the holiest day of the year is a moment none of us should ever forget and in particular we should never forget Melvin and Adrian. Together we can overcome and defeat antisemitism.”
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GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson, who last month apologised for a ‘missed opportunity’ to act before the attack after it emerged the al-Shamie’s phones were seized by officers but crucial data was not examined, admitted the force was ‘not infallible’.
But, he added: “No-one should doubt the perfection of our intent. Our anxiety to give of our very best in all circumstances. And in our fierce determination to stand in defence of you, your families and the wider Jewish community.”
Describing antisemitism was a ‘moral stain that needs to be ruthlessly expunged’ he said that in light of recent attacks he ‘could well understand how vulnerable and isolated’ the Jewish community feels. But he urged those gathered to remember the impeccably observed silences held at football grounds around the country in the wake of the Yom Kippur attack
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“That was the roar of the silent majority and the true voice of our country,” he added.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig were also among those in attendance. The first anniversary of the attack isn’t until October, but Monday night’s memorial was held to coincide with the religious anniversary date rather than by the secular calendar.
Yom Kippur falls in September this year. Private prayers will be held at the synagogue on that day.
Speaking to the BBC earlier this week Rabbi Walker said the service was also arranged because the community also wanted to hold a public memorial before the Jewish High Holy Days.
Ariana Grande reveals she is suffering with a foot injury as she gives update on her final two London shows after concerned fans noticed her limping on stage
Ariana Grande has revealed she is suffering with a foot injury as she gave an update on her final two London shows on Monday.
The singer, 33, is taking a planned career break ‘amid ongoing scrutiny’ after her Eternal Sunshine tour concludes on Tuesday.
Ahead of her last two gigs at the O2 Arena, Ariana shared on Instagram that she is recovering from a ‘deep cut’ after fans noticed her limping on stage last week.
Ariana explained she will not be performing in her trademark heels and instead will opt for comfy footwear to avoid putting weight on her injured foot.
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She wrote: ‘My sweet petals, I wanted to let you know I will need to be in cozy footwear for this evenings show (and possibly tomorrow’s) as I am bandaged up underneath, recovering from a minor injury.
‘It is not a sprain or anything muscular but just a deep cut! So when you see me tonight without my signature heels, or even possibly having a little trouble putting weight on that foot, that is why!
Ariana Grande has revealed she is suffering with a foot injury as she gave an update on her final two London shows on Monday
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Ahead of her last two gigs at the O2 Arena, Ariana shared on Instagram that she is recovering from a ‘deep cut’ after fans noticed her limping on stage last week
‘But please do not fret. On with the show and I am on the mend. I cannot wait to perform for you tonight and tomorrow (even if I am a few inches shorter than usual).’
Fans this week shared their concern on social media after spotting the star limping during her ten-night London residency.
A comment on TikTok read: ‘When I saw those high heels I was worried that she might roll her ankle due to how high. Anyways I hope it’s nothing serious and she recovers soon’.
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Another added: ‘It must be so painful in those heals’.
While a third wrote: ‘Next Week needs to come fast for my baby to rest.’
Earlier this month, Ariana clarified that her career hiatus had been ‘quietly planned a long time ago’ before insisting that the decision was not made because ‘negativity was ruining things for me’.
Ariana explained on stage at one of her shows: ‘Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes.’
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She added that her tour, which she kicked off in North America in June, ‘will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life’.
‘Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion,’ Ariana began, ‘So I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much. The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing.’
Ariana explained she will not be performing in her trademark heels and instead will opt for comfy footwear to avoid putting weight on her injured foot
‘It is something that I had decided to plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place. And I want you to know many things can be true at the same time.’
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‘I want to share this because I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the f**k opposite. Honestly, this is not what that is.’
‘And I just want to be very, very clear: Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes. And also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life.’
‘No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or elaborate to me than this love that we share,’ she gushed to fans from the stage.
‘The rest of that s**t is not mine to carry, so I don’t carry it. I need to get out here and differentiate that from my truth for you all because I love you and this tour has been the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life.’
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Ariana’s exit from the spotlight means she has decided to bow out of her starring role in the London production of Sunday In The Park with George at the Barbican Centre in summer 2027.
She was set to reunite with her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey for the anticipated show, but producers confirmed in a statement on Sunday that she had decided to withdraw, adding ‘we know this cannot have been an easy decision.’
The statement confirmed that the production will go ahead and open as planned at the Barbican in summer 2027 with casting ‘announced in due course’.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down after 18 months on the job, the White House said Monday, in the latest departure of a top military leader during the Trump administration.
No reason was given for the departure of Driscoll, who is a friend of Vice President JD Vance, but tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported. It marks the latest in a series of shakeups of the military leadership, with the Army especially seeing major upheaval.
“Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement.
“The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War,” she added.
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A U.S. Army official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Driscoll spoke with President Donald Trump on the current state of the Army and submitted his resignation. The official did not provide additional details. The Pentagon referred questions to the Army. Driscoll’s resignation was reported earlier Monday by The Wall Street Journal.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who has made a meteoric rise under Hegseth, took George’s place as the Army’s acting chief of staff. Under LaNeve, the service is pulling the plug on a drone modernization program that Driscoll had heralded. An Army unit based in Europe was building its own drones before LaNeve directed it to end its efforts and return to being a traditional infantry battalion, officials said in August.
Driscoll was a George ally and lamented his departure, along with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. He told Congress in April that he and his family drove to George’s house following his resignation “and we all gave him a hug.”
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“That being said, the civilian leadership, the design of our system, is that they get to pick the leaders that they want,” Driscoll added.
Driscoll is an Iraq war veteran, tech investor and former adviser to Vance, whom Driscoll met at Yale Law School. When nominating Driscoll in 2024, Trump called him “a disruptor and change agent.”
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As Army secretary, Driscoll was tapped for the unusual role of key negotiator to try to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He was also a major force behind trying to cut the red tape for military contractors to quickly develop more drones and counter-drone capabilities as warfare rapidly changes around the world.
The Senate confirmed him in February 2025, voting 66-28, following an Armed Services Committee hearing that was largely unconfrontational and focused on how the Army could modernize its systems, improve recruiting and beef up the military industrial base.
Driscoll noted that his father and grandfather served in the Army and he vowed to be a secretary focused on the needs of soldiers. According to the Army, Driscoll served as an armor officer from August 2007 to March 2011, deploying to Iraq from October 2009 to July 2010.
He also ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2020, getting about 8% of the vote in a crowded field of candidates.
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His departure comes after Hegseth ousted several other generals and admirals, including the head of the Navy.
Police have issued a condition update on a mum and daughter found injured at a home in the Lisnahull Road area of Dungannon where a 61-year-old man was found dead
23:25, 31 Aug 2026Updated 23:30, 31 Aug 2026
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a man in Dungannon, County Tyrone, and the attempted murder of two other people in the same incident.
On Saturday emergency services rushed to the Lisnahull Road area of Dungannon where they found a 61-year-old man dead next to his seriously injured daughter at a house in the town. Police on Tuesday said the girl is in a stable condition.
The dead man’s wife, who was also in the house at the time and sustained non-life threatening injuries, was released from hospital.
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Providing an update, Mid Ulster District Commander Superintendent Peter Stevenson said: “Just after 10.55am, we received a report from a member of the public of an ongoing disturbance at a house in the Lisnahull Road area of Dungannon. “Officers arrived a short time later and discovered the body of a man aged 61, his 48-year-old wife, who had sustained non-life threatening injuries, and their severely injured eight-year-old daughter. “Our officers immediately commenced first aid on the woman and girl – and I am in no doubt that their quick-thinking actions gave the young girl a fighting chance of survival. “She is now in a stable condition in hospital. Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance later attended and took both females to hospital.”
The officer added: “First and foremost, I want to express my sympathies to the loved ones of this family who will inevitably be struggling to come to terms with this horrendous news. Specialist officers are supporting the wider family circle and we are liaising with the relevant consulate. We would ask that the public avoid speculation.” The senior officer said police do not believe that there is any ongoing risk to the public and they are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation. However, Superintendent Stevenson said locals would continue to see an increased police presence in the area with a “significant number of detectives and local policing officers dedicated to working on this case”.
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The teenage boy, who has not been named for legal reasons, is due to appear before Omagh Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
Lentils, beans and chickpeas have been feeding people for thousands of years. Lentils are among the world’s earliest cultivated crops, with archaeological evidence tracing them back to the beginnings of agriculture. Yet scientists are still learning what happens inside our bodies when we eat them.
A 2026 review of the research examined the evidence on pulses and their effects on the gut and metabolism. Pulses are the dried edible seeds of legume plants, including lentils, chickpeas, dried beans and dried peas. Legumes are the wider plant family and also include foods such as soya and fresh peas.
The researchers brought together evidence from human studies with laboratory and animal research. So what does the science suggest pulses actually do once we eat them?
1. They feed microbes in your gut
Pulses provide plant protein and fibre, along with carbohydrates that are not always completely broken down before they reach the large intestine.
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There, gut microbes get involved. When some bacteria break down fibre and other carbohydrates, they produce substances called short-chain fatty acids. These help support the lining of the gut and are involved in how the immune system and metabolism work.
Because pulses provide some of the carbohydrates these microbes feed on, researchers are interested in whether regularly eating them changes which microbes thrive in the gut and what they produce.
Pulses are rich in plant protein, complex carbs and dietary fibre, while remaining low in fat. Jakov Ilkoski/Shutterstock
The recent review found promising evidence that pulses can affect the gut microbiome, the community of microbes living in our digestive system. But much of this research still comes from laboratory and animal studies. Longer human trials are needed before we know how important these changes are for health.
2. They can change what happens to your blood sugar after a meal
Blood sugar normally rises after we eat carbohydrates. Pulses appear to reduce the size of that rise.
The evidence for longer-term changes is less certain. The same review found some improvements in measures of blood-sugar control, particularly among people with type 2 diabetes, but researchers rated much of this evidence as low or very low certainty.
3. They may modestly lower cholesterol
There is also evidence from human trials that eating legumes can produce small improvements in cholesterol.
The changes seen in the legume trials were relatively small, so eating beans or lentils should not be thought of as a treatment for high cholesterol. They can, however, form part of a diet that supports cardiovascular health.
4. They may help you feel fuller
Pulses may also affect how hungry you feel after eating.
This means the evidence supports a short-term effect on feelings of fullness more clearly than it supports claims that pulses automatically reduce how much we eat.
So the amount of a mineral present in a food tells only part of the nutritional story. How that food is prepared can influence how much becomes available for our bodies to use.
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There is an environmental advantage too
Pulses also have an unusual ability before they ever reach our plates.
Legume plants form partnerships with bacteria around their roots that convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into forms plants can use. This relationship is one reason legumes are important in farming systems and can help reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.
So, should we eat more pulses? The evidence is strongest for some effects and still developing for others. Human trials suggest pulses can reduce blood-sugar rises after meals, modestly improve cholesterol and increase feelings of fullness. Research into their effects on our gut microbes is particularly interesting, but better long-term studies in people are still needed.
Fortunately, adding pulses to meals does not require much reinvention. Lentils can be added to soups, curries and salads. Chickpeas can become hummus or be roasted, while beans work in stews, wraps and pasta dishes.
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After thousands of years on our plates, pulses are hardly a new discovery. What is changing is our ability to follow what happens after we eat them, from the bacteria in our gut to changes in our blood. And scientists are still filling in parts of that picture.
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