Chickpea Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Chickpeas are small, round beans also known as garbanzo beans. Belonging to the Fabaceae family of legumes, chickpeas have a nutty flavor and a soft texture when cooked. Chickpeas have become extremely popular in recent years, being coveted as a versatile and highly nutritious food. Perhaps the most well-known use for chickpeas is in making hummus, a traditional Middle Eastern dip.¹

Chickpea Health Uses and Health Benefits

Because they are so nutritious, chickpeas offer plenty of health benefits. Firstly, chickpeas are an excellent source of protein and iron, making them a good plant protein for vegetarians and vegans. Chickpeas are also a good source of dietary fiber, which is essential to healthy digestion and preventing colon cancer. Also rich in a variety of minerals, chickpeas are considered by many to be a superfood.^2,3

One of the most important chickpea health benefits is for diabetes. Chickpeas naturally help manage blood sugar levels because they contain a slow-burning carbohydrate that doesn’t cause spikes in blood sugar. Chickpeas are also an excellent superfood for those looking to lose or maintain their weight, as chickpeas promote a sense of feeling full (satiety). The result of feeling fuller is that you consume fewer calories because you have a longer-lasting supply of energy.²

Chickpeas also benefit you by disease-prevention. Naturally helping to reduce bad cholesterol and blood pressure levels, chickpeas are good for lowering the risk of heart diseases. And high-fiber foods like chickpeas also help reduce inflammation, which can prevent many chronic, inflammation-caused diseases.²

References

1. https://www.britannica.com/plant/chickpea 
2. https://draxe.com/chickpeas-nutrition/ 
3. https://www.livestrong.com/article/408455-benefits-of-chickpeas/