Anyone who has ever tried hummus will agree that it’s a great dish. Its main ingredient is chickpeas, and they are great at helping you to manage your weight. They are not only an excellent source of protein, but they’re chock-full of B-vitamins too; great for getting your metabolism motoring.
The Benefits of Chickpeas
Chickpeas are also an awesome source of fiber, so they help to keep you feeling fuller for longer, and as you probably know, fiber is great for cleaning out your gut and keeping you regular.
Research on chickpeas has also revealed some more interesting facts about the fiber you get from them. This study looked at two groups of participants that received about 28 grams of fiber per day. But the two groups were very different in terms of their food sources for fiber. One group received dietary fiber primarily from chickpeas. The other group obtained dietary fiber from entirely different sources. The chickpea group had better blood fat regulation, including lower levels of LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides [2].
Chickpeas taste great too. They have a slightly sweet, nutty sort of flavor, and are superb when added to salads. You can also put them into soups, make hummus with them of course, and you can even bake them in your oven until they’re crispy, to make a sin-free snack when you’re peckish.
Although chickpeas are a member of the bean family, they have less starch than most other beans, which is just what you want in a food for helping you to manage your weight. Participants in a study reported more satisfaction with their diet when chickpeas were included, and they consumed fewer processed food snacks during test weeks in the study when chickpeas were consumed. They also consumed less food overall when their diet was supplemented with chickpeas [3]. You can buy them in cans or jars, and if you do, make you sure there is no added salt ,and that they’re not floating in oil. For the ultimate chickpea, buy the dried variety and boil them at home.
How To Make Hummus
Making hummus is super simple! Just check out the graphic below by Shape.com for some great recipes. Remember to always choose organic.
Whatever way you’re flavoring your dip, the method is always the same: Rinse and drain any canned beans, then combine everything in a food processor and blitz it until smooth. If you like a thinner consistency, add water a tablespoon at a time until you get what you like. Check out this chart (we recommend bookmarking and Pinning it) for 13 so-good-you’ll-eat-them-with-a-spoon flavors of hummus.
Please note that the graphic calls for canned chickpeas, but personally, I am not a fan of canned food for many reasons from the BPA to the fact that fresh is always best especially since if you soak your chickpeas you can sprout them and then make your hummus upping your nutrient value and getting a delicious homemade snack.
