Chickpeas Nutrition Benefits the Gut

Chickpeas are a common staple throughout the world. These legumes have been used for centuries in cooking and traditional medicine. They’re nutritionally dense, so it makes sense that they’ve become popular with modern vegans and vegetarians who need protein alternatives to meat-based dishes.

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Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are one of the world’s oldest crops. Chickpeas have been a component of certain traditional meals for over 7,500 years, and it’s easy to understand why when you consider the nutritional advantages of chickpeas.

Chickpeas are still one of the most popular legumes on practically every continent, and it’s easy to see why when we consider the nutritional advantages of chickpeas. Chickpea is the world’s second most extensively farmed and consumed bean, behind the soybean. Chickpeas are still a part of some of the world’s healthiest diets, particularly those who consume traditional Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and African cuisines – whether whole chickpeas or chickpea flour.

To begin, what exactly are chickpeas? Chickpeas are a kind of legume with several health advantages. Legumes are technically seed pods that belong to the pea family. Lentils, peas, various beans, soybeans, and peanuts are all edible legumes.

What are the health benefits of chickpeas? They aid in satiety, digestion, blood sugar control, and protection against metabolic syndrome and heart disease, among other things. Chickpea nutrition is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals, which is why they’re popular in many therapeutic diets, including the Ayurvedic and Mediterranean diets. In addition, they’re used in a variety of cuisines all around the globe, notably as the major component in hummus, which is eaten virtually every day in countries including Israel, Syria, Turkey, Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt.


Nutritional Value

Chickpea nutrition demonstrates what an incredible superfood these beans really are. Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are high in fiber, iron, zinc, phosphorus, B vitamins, and other nutrients.

Are chickpeas a protein or a starch? They do provide some of both. Beans, pulses, and legumes are nutrient-dense foods that supply protein, carbohydrate, fiber, and minerals in one package. They’re also satisfying and low in calories. But is this to imply that chickpeas are a “healthy carb”? Yes, since the starch in chickpeas is slowly digested, resulting in more stable blood sugar levels (more on this below).

Approximately one cup (164 grams) of cooked chickpeas contains:

  • Calorie Count: 269
  • Carbs: 45 grams
  • Protein: 14.5 grams
  • Fat: 4.2 grams
  • Fiber: 12.5 grams
  • Manganese: 1.7 milligrams (84 percent DV)
  • Folate: 282 micrograms (71 percent DV)
  • Copper: 0.6 milligrams (29 percent DV)
  • Phosphorus: 276 milligrams (28 percent DV)
  • Iron content: 4.7 milligrams (26 percent DV)
  • Magnesium: 78.7 milligrams (20 percent DV)
  • Zinc: 2.5 milligrams (17 percent DV)
  • Potassium: 477 milligrams (14 percent DV)
  • Thiamine: 0.2 milligrams (13 percent DV)
  • Vitamin B6: 0.2 milligrams (11 percent DV)
  • Selenium: 6.1 micrograms (9 percent DV)
  • Vitamin K: 6.6 micrograms (8 percent DV)
  • Calcium: 80.4 milligrams (8 percent DV)
  • Riboflavin: 0.1 milligrams (6 percent DV)
  • Pantothenic Acid: 0.5 milligrams (5 percent DV)

Chickpeas are high in vitamin A, C, and E, as well as niacin.


8 Nutritional Advantages

What are the advantages of chickpeas in terms of health? Chickpeas aid the body in various ways since they contain so many vitamins and minerals. The following are the top eight advantages of chickpeas:

1. Carbohydrates that release slowly

Chickpeas, like other legumes, are a kind of complex carbohydrate that the body can digest and utilize for energy over time. This is important because not all carbohydrates are created equal. For example, some immediately elevate blood sugar levels and cause “spikes and dips” in energy (simple or fast carbs). Others do the reverse and provide us with long-term energy (complex carbs).

Even extremely low-carb diets need at least 25 grams of carbohydrates per day, and a modest portion of chickpeas may assist deliver some of these carbs.

2. Assists in the management of blood sugar levels

Is it possible to eat chickpeas on a low-carb diet? Yes, since they are considered “low carb” in most circumstances. Chickpea nutrition comprises starch, which is a slow-burning carbohydrate that does not cause a spike in blood glucose levels. Unlike simple sugars found in processed foods like refined wheat, white bread, pasta, soda, candy, and most other packaged foods, the carbohydrates in chickpeas take a long time to break down once ingested.

Is it OK to eat chickpeas if you have diabetes? Yes, even for folks who benefit from a low-carb diet, they are a safe source of carbohydrates. Starches contain natural sugars called glucose, which the body readily utilizes for various purposes, but glucose may be problematic for persons who are prediabetic or have diabetes. In addition, the process of digesting and using the glucose included in all beans and starches is prolonged, which is critical for people with diabetes who struggle to maintain a steady blood sugar level after consuming carbohydrates owing to insulin resistance.

3. Helps with weight loss by increasing satiety

Chickpeas are rich in protein and fiber, which may help you feel fuller, minimize food cravings, and avoid unhealthy snacking. Fiber consumption has been linked to a reduction in body weight in studies. With their fiber, complex carbohydrates, and protein, beans are a satisfying complement to any dish.

Chickpea nutrition contains macronutrients that work together to make us feel full after eating while also assisting in blood sugar regulation and hence energy maintenance. Consuming meals like fat-burning garbanzo beans regularly is an excellent approach to help with healthy and long-term weight reduction. In addition, satiety makes you less inclined to snack between meals on empty-calorie, processed junk foods, which may slow down your weight reduction.

Chickpeas become even more satisfying when combined with other healthy whole foods, such as vegetables or organic goat cheese. They are ideal for folks who need to lose weight but are limiting their calorie consumption since they are low in calories but rich in important fiber and protein.

4. Due to its high fiber content, it aids digestion

Chickpeas are rich in fiber, with around six to seven grams per half-cup meal. Unfortunately, many Americans lack dietary fiber due to their contemporary western diet.

Constipation relief is a primary advantage of chickpea nutrition. Fiber aids good digestion by swiftly passing meals through the digestive system, reducing IBS and constipation symptoms. In addition, fiber draws fluids from the body and binds them to the majority of the stool, including poisons and waste that must be evacuated. Fiber also helps maintain a healthy balance of pH and bacteria in the stomach, boosting good bacteria while lowering harmful bacteria. A bacterial imbalance in the gut flora is often associated with various digestive issues.

The high fiber content of garbanzo beans contributes to its filling effect and aids digestion, but it also has other benefits. Fiber benefits the heart’s health, blood sugar regulation, protect against cancer, heart disease, diverticulosis, kidney stones, PMS, obesity, and other diseases.

5. Aids in the prevention of heart disease and cancer

Cardiologists favor the chickpea diet because it promotes heart health in various ways. Chickpeas have been demonstrated to help lower hypertension, regulate harmful cholesterol levels, and protect against heart disease in multiple methods.

This might be partly due to the high fiber content of chickpeas, which helps individuals avoid overeating and developing unhealthy extra weight, particularly around their essential organs. In addition, fiber helps control cholesterol levels by forming a gel-like material in the digestive tract that binds to fatty acids. Finally, soluble and insoluble fibers have been shown to aid in controlling and managing hypertension.

Beans aid in preventing plaque development in the arteries, the maintenance of appropriate blood pressure, and the reduction of the risk of cardiac arrest and stroke. Research suggests that eating only one serving of beans per day (about 3/4 cup cooked) may help reduce the risk of a heart attack and balance “bad” LDL cholesterol.

Because of their high fiber content, beans have also been demonstrated in animal tests to provide protection against cancer, particularly colon cancer. For example, in mouse studies, garbanzo beans have been shown to help prevent malignant cells from developing. In addition, because beans keep the digestive system, including the colon, free of harmful bacteria and toxic buildup, they help to create a healthier overall environment in which pH levels are balanced, inflammation is reduced, and cancer cells are unable to proliferate as they would in an unhealthy environment.

6. Provides Vitamins and Minerals in Adequate Amounts 

Chickpea nutrition is strong in iron, zinc, folate, phosphorus, and B vitamins, which are particularly significant for vegetarians and vegans who may be deficient in these nutrients owing to their avoidance of animal products. Chickpeas are a good source of folate as well. Folate is necessary for the body to successfully make new cells because it aids in the copying and synthesizing of DNA. In addition to protein, it aids the body’s use of other B vitamins (in the form of amino acids).

A lack of folate may cause anemia, poor immunological function, and poor digestion, and it can also cause neural tube problems like spina bifida in pregnant women. Zinc is also included in chickpea nutrition. Zinc is a trace mineral involved in over 100 enzymatic processes in the human body.

7. It has an alkalizing effect on the body

Legumes have an alkalizing impact on the body, which helps maintain pH balance by fighting the elevated acidity seen in most contemporary western diets. In addition, when chickpeas are paired with a source of healthful fat, such as olive oil, as in hummus, nutritional absorption is improved even more. Chickpeas are also high in three minerals that might aid with PMS symptoms: magnesium, manganese, and vitamin B6.

Chickpeas are a good complement to an alkaline diet since they are alkalizing.

8. Excellent Plant-Based Protein Source

Are chickpeas a high-protein food? Yes, particularly if you’re a vegetarian or vegan.

Protein is a crucial macronutrient that is involved in practically every bodily function, including vital organs, muscles, tissues, and hormone levels. Getting enough nutritious protein in your diet might naturally help you age more slowly. Proteins in our meals help us generate hemoglobin and essential antibodies, manage blood sugar levels, develop and maintain muscle, provide long-lasting energy, fight germs, make us feel full, and heal wounds and injuries.

Chickpea nutrition includes a significant amount of protein (approximately 15 grams per cup of cooked beans), as well as a variety of other minerals and fiber. Children, vegans, and vegetarians are at the most risk of not getting enough protein. Muscle weakness, exhaustion, low energy, eye issues such as cataracts, heart difficulties, poor skin health, hormone imbalances, and more may arise from not regularly consuming enough protein.

Chickpeas are a fantastic alternative for non-meat eaters who need to ensure they get enough of this macronutrient since they are entirely plant-based. Chickpeas are often combined with grains or vegetables, such as in stews or hummus served on pita bread; fortunately, these foods combine to form a “complete protein.” This implies they include all of the essential amino acids, or protein building blocks, that the body needs to get from food in order to employ for bodily function and energy.


Used in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chickpeas are widely utilized in Indian and Asian cuisines, where the Ayurvedic diet originated, and in areas where Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is still practiced.

  • Chickpeas are a frequent ingredient in curries and are a popular vegetarian dish in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, where vegetarian diets have a long history. Chickpeas are known in India as kadale kaalu (Kannada) or chana. Chickpeas and other beans are a good source of protein for those who don’t consume meat or animal products.
  •  Chickpeas may be found in various dals (also known as dhal), which are often used in Ayurvedic cuisine and eaten regularly. Legumes and beans are regarded as beneficial since they are low-cost yet high-nutrient sources.
  • Legumes have an astringent flavor, according to Ayurveda. Legumes are considered to promote “Vata” energy, which means they encourage increased energy levels while also causing gas and “dryness.” Chickpeas should always be cooked with a lot of oil, garlic, or ghee to keep them moist and aid digestion. Chickpeas are also thought to assist in developing biological tissues, such as muscular formation.
  • Beans are usually soaked before being cooked in Ayurveda and mixed with spices to aid digestion. For example, chickpeas are seasoned with asafetida (hing), cumin, fresh ginger, turmeric, and black pepper, which may help with bloating and gas.
  • According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, legumes/beans are also high in protein, fiber, antioxidants, and many other nutrients. Therefore, beans should be consumed regularly to assist the main organs in working correctly and avoiding illness. In addition, black foods, such as black chickpeas and black beans, are exceptionally high in nutrients that promote kidney and liver function.
  • According to TCM, beans should be mixed with rice or another whole grain to form a complete protein supply. Beans, rice, vegetables, and fermented foods are typically consumed together in TCM diets as part of “one-pot meals.”
  • Chickpeas and other beans such as adzuki, black, white, and mung beans, according to TCM theory, provide health advantages such as strengthening the heart, assisting with bowel motions, improving blood pressure and blood sugar, detoxifying, cancer prevention, boosting bodily strength, and weight loss.

Garbanzo beans vs. Chickpeas

Garbanzo beans and chickpeas are the same items (from the same plant family) – they’re simply different names for the same legume. Chickpeas are the name given to them in the United States, whereas garbanzo beans are the name given to them in Europe.

Chickpeas/garbanzo beans are a kind of pulse that grow on trees and emerge from a seedpod with two or three peas, similar to how green peas appeared before they were de-shelled. Chickpeas come in various shapes and sizes, but we primarily eat three types: chickpeas, garbanzo beans, and lentils.

Desi chickpeas are mostly grown in India and have tiny, darker seeds and a rough coat; Bombday chickpeas, which are grown in India but are bigger; and Kabuli chickpeas, which are primarily grown in Europe or Africa and have a large size and smooth coat. All three varieties provide the same health advantages and may be combined.

Chickpeas are typically white or beige in color; however, several hues of chickpeas are available. For example, you may be able to get pink, green, or black chickpeas at specific health food shops. Kala Chana, or black chickpeas, are a popular dish in India. Is there a nutritional difference between white and black chickpeas? Chickpeas, both white and black, have similar nutritional profiles and advantages. The black color of certain chickpea kinds indicates that they contain antioxidants, particularly polyphenols and flavonoids, although the benefits of chickpeas are essentially the same regardless of hue.


Where to Find and How to Use

What does it taste like to eat chickpeas? In terms of flavor, they are one of the most adaptable beans/legumes, with no bitterness and less “earthiness” than other legumes. They have a hard texture and a taste characterized as mild and nutlike at times. They are creamy when mashed and make a terrific addition to spreads, butter, and dips.

Here are some frequently asked questions about where to get chickpeas and how to cook them:

Which kind of chickpeas should you buy?

Chickpeas are available to dry, pre-cooked/canned, or pre-cooked/frozen. However, many people believe that beans cooked from scratch—that is, from dry beans—taste better and retain their texture better than pre-cooked beans.

When you don’t have time to cook beans from scratch, canned, pre-cooked beans are a terrific choice. However, many brands of canned beans employ the toxin BPA in the lining of their cans, which you want to avoid leaching into your meals.

To prevent this chemical from ending up in your beans, look for organic kinds of canned beans that are designated “BPA free.” The good news is that pre-cooked beans, whether canned or frozen, frequently contain the same nutritional levels as freshly cooked beans, so as long as you select a high-quality variety, you can eat beans whenever you want.

Look for dried chickpeas at your preferred health food store’s “bulk bin” department, where you’ll likely find organic dry beans for sale at a reasonable price. In addition, you don’t have to worry about purchasing too many dried beans and having them spoil since they last a long time.

Why do I need to soak chickpeas?

It’s recommended to soak all dry beans overnight before cooking them since this makes them more digestible, helps with nutritional absorption, and cuts down on cooking time. Keep a supply of dried beans on hand in your kitchen for when you have some spare time to prepare. Soak them for 12–24 hours before cooking, which cuts the cooking time in half, from two hours to 30 minutes.

The naturally occurring phytates and tannins in garbanzo beans — and all other beans and legumes — are causing some worry. It is for this reason that soaking is advised. Because they might reduce nutrient availability in certain situations, these substances are commonly referred to as “nutrient blockers.” Soaking and sprouting beans remove the phytic acid and improve mineral absorption, making the beans more digestible and less gas-forming.

Phytic acid has become a health problem in recent years because we no longer employ food preparation processes like sprouting or sourdough fermentation, which destroy phytic acid in large quantities. As a result, individuals are eating much more than ever before.

A high-phytic acid diet may cause mineral shortages, leaky gut syndrome, tooth decay, bone loss, osteoporosis, and other health problems. Many of the vitamins and minerals contained naturally in beans are linked to phytic acid, making them difficult to absorb. Phytic acid not only reduces the amount of accessible minerals in your meals but may also drain minerals from your bones and teeth.

It’s preferable to purchase organic beans that are also labeled GMO-free to prevent taking too much phytic acid since phytic acid levels are substantially greater in vegetables cultivated with current high-phosphate fertilizers than in those grown in natural compost. Also, consider soaking and sprouting your beans (and grains) to lower phytic acid by 50–100%.

Is it necessary to drain chickpeas?

To cut down on salt and improve the flavor of canned beans, I suggest rinsing them. Then, boil them in additional vegetable stock to further plump up and increase the taste of canned and washed beans.

Is it possible to consume raw chickpeas?

This is a terrible concept. First, chickpeas must be cooked and mature before eating. They’re difficult to digest otherwise, and many of their nutrients won’t be absorbed.

What’s the best way to make dried chickpeas from scratch?

Pre-soak chickpeas and other beans the night before you want to cook them if you remember. This helps you to prepare them with less effort and in less time. Cook dried beans by adding three cups of water to one cup of dry beans and boiling them for 1.5 to two hours on low heat. The beans are ready to eat after they are soft. You may prepare these in large quantities and freeze them to ensure that you have some on hand at all times.

How do you prepare canned chickpeas?

You don’t need to prepare chickpeas from a can since they’re already cooked. However, to warm them up, reheat them in a saucepan. I suggest warming them in broth (such as bone broth) to add extra flavor.

What’s the best way to cook roasted chickpeas? 

Chickpeas may be roasted or baked in the oven to add a little more crunch. Once they’re done, drizzle a little oil on a flat baking pan/sheet, add your chickpeas, and bake for 15 minutes. To give them more taste, try adding spices or sauces like tamari.


Recipes

Chickpeas are famous all around the globe, and it’s easy to see why, given their variety, delectable flavor, and various nutrition advantages. So what may chickpeas be used for at home?

  • Hummus, a spread prepared from mashed chickpeas, olive oil, tahini (ground sesame seeds), lemon juice, and often garlic and herbs, is one of the most popular uses for chickpeas. But is hummus really beneficial to your health? Yes! Hummus offers comparable nutritional advantages to chickpeas, but it has the added bonus of including healthy fats from tahini and olive oil.
  • Other ways to use chickpeas include adding them to stews, soups, bean tacos, salads, or mashing them and baking with them.
  • Chickpea flour (produced from dried and crushed chickpeas) may be used to create gluten-free flatbreads, thick fast bread, flat cakes or pancakes, muffins, meat or fish coatings, and sauces/gravies. Gram flour or besan are other names for chickpea flour.

Chickpeas are also commonly used in Indian curries; popular in Portugal as part of Rancho, which is a meat, bean, and pasta dish; enjoyed in stews, pastas, and served with seafood throughout Italy and France; ground into chickpea flour, which is used to make bread and pitas throughout the Middle East; added to desserts and sweets in the Philippines; and widely used in salads and soups in North America and Europe.

Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans in certain recipes) may be used in various ways.


History

Chickpeas are a legume in the Fabaceae family of plants. Chickpeas that have been domesticated have been discovered in Turkey and Greece, with records reaching back thousands of years to ancient times. Garbanzo beans are thought to have been initially ingested by Ancient Mediterranean people between 7500 and 10,000 years ago and then quickly expanded to southern France and Germany.

The beans were often used in sweet dishes and were even eaten uncooked in ancient Greece. Ancient Romans ate the beans as snacks or cooked in broths, roasts, and stews. Chickpeas are said to have been connected with the Greek deity Venus millennia ago because the beans were thought to have significant reproductive health effects.

Chickpeas were a mainstay in almost every nation’s traditional cuisine in the years that followed, and they are still a staple in nearly every nation’s traditional diet today. While chickpeas have been popular throughout history, they have only lately gained appeal in North America, thanks to Middle Eastern cuisines such as hummus and falafel, which have exposed many new people to how delicious chickpeas are can be. Chickpeas are widely consumed in the United States due to their many culinary applications and health advantages.


Precautions

Is it true that chickpeas cause gas? Yes, there’s a good chance they’ll do so. Because of their high fiber content and the kinds of carbs they contain, beans/legumes may produce gas and bloating. I suggest eating modest portions and soaking beans before cooking them to aid digestion.

Try making your own dry beans from scratch and soaking them overnight—this aids in the reduction of certain chemicals that might create digestive issues and obstruct mineral absorption. If you’re not used to eating a lot of fiber, start slowly and gradually adding more to your diet rather than eating a lot of fiber-rich beans all at once. This will aid digestion and prevent unpleasant sensations.

Is a chickpea allergy anything to be worried about? Chickpeas, for example, are legumes; therefore, are they connected to peanuts (a frequent allergy)? Although chickpea allergies are not as frequent as peanut allergies, they may produce allergic responses in certain individuals. Stop eating chickpeas if you experience itching, a swollen throat, digestive difficulties, bloating, watery eyes, or other allergy symptoms.


Last Thoughts

  • Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are legumes related to green peas, soybeans, and peanuts. They are one of the most widely-eaten beans on the planet, particularly in India, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Africa.
  • Chickpea nutrition is high in plant-based protein and fiber and iron, zinc, phosphorus, folate, B vitamins, and other nutrients.
  • Chickpea nutrition advantages include slow-release carbohydrates, fiber, and protein; blood sugar balancing; improved satiety and weight reduction; alkalizing the body; heart protection; improved digestive health; and vitamins and minerals.
  • Chickpeas may be used to produce hummus, stews or soups, Indian curries or dhal, flatbreads, and other baked items to get the benefits of chickpea nutrition.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are chickpeas good for gut health?

A: Chickpeas are a low-sodium, fiber-rich legume good for gut health.

Why are chickpeas good for your heart?

A: Chickpeas are high in fiber and protein. This helps keep the heart healthy and prevent diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease.

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