Interested in a healthy snack alternative to the “All-American,” artery-clogging reruns? If the answer is yes, you’ve got to get your hands on some hummus. This Mediterranean snack puts the traditional creamy dips in our fridges to shame. Why? Because hummus is chocked full of some amazing health benefits primarily because of its star ingredient, beans. Today, we’re going to look at some of the many hummus health benefits.
Hummus Benefits:
Chickpeas or garbanzo beans?
No matter what you call them, both of these beans are the stars of the show because they are the same thing. You can substitute them freely back and forth in recipes, but don’t get too caught up in finding a difference between the two because there isn’t one.
Hummus and Chickpeas Nutritional Benefits: Make hummus a must-have!
- This dip has fiber, protein, calcium and a dose of carbs that your body needs.
- It contains what we have affectionately come to know as “healthy fat” (unsaturated fats like those found in the typical hummus ingredients of tahini and olive oil).
- Hummus has the benefits of iron, which helps deliver oxygen throughout your body and relieves anemia.
- Chickpeas benefits: Garbanzo beans are nutrient heavy so you are making a great trade for your daily-allotted calories when you are eating hummus.
- This dip is a popular option for people living with diabetes because it helps balance out blood sugar levels.
- Chickpeas and garbanzo beans, if you’re a mom or mom-to-be, provide the vitamin Folate (key during intense stages of growth and development like during pregnancy and infancy) – add another thing to the list of hummus nutritional benefits!
But wait, there is more!
The list of hummus health benefits continues, even more than we’ve already listed. Chickpeas and garbanzo beans have properties that prevent cancer, prevent heart disease, are high in antioxidants and help with sleeping, learning and memorizing. It is also a great option for people who are allergic to foods because it is gluten free, nut free and dairy free.
What does it all mean? Hummus nutritional benefits
Strong bones, muscle health, balanced blood sugar, healthy cholesterol levels, regular digestive tract action, less sugar crashing, and long lasting energy to get you through the day!
Obviously hummus, with its star performers of chickpeas and garbanzo beans, has many great benefits to a persons health if they are eating it on a regular basis.
Hummus as a weight loss motivator!
Hummus is an excellent food option for people engaging in an active weight loss program or simply watching their weight.
All the carbs, fiber and protein loaded into chickpeas and garbanzo beans create the perfect formula for a slowly digestible and filling snack. This keeps the cravings away and keeps you satisfied for longer periods of time between meals. What more could you want in a snack when you are counting precious daily calories?
Some tips for using hummus in your weight loss program.
Quality Products.
Look for hummus made with olive oil instead of any cheap substitutes. Hope Hummus uses only extra virgin olive oil in all of their products and doesn’t dilute that ingredient with any other oils.
Be conscious of your portion size.
Everything in moderation right? One serving is equal to two tablespoons and makes for a satisfying snack a few times a day. Pay attention to how hummus fits into the goals you have set for your weight loss. Calories can add up fast if you eat a whole container of anything, even if they’re the kind of calories that are good for you. Hummus benefits are great, but don’t overdo it!
Reach for veggies instead of chips or crackers.
Vegetables are great dip scoopers and pair well with chickpeas and garbanzo beans. Here are some suggestions: Bell peppers, green beans, sugar snap peas, asparagus spears, cucumber slices, carrots, zucchini and more. Yum!
Substitute Hummus for other unhealthy foods that you use or crave.
Spread it on sandwiches in place of mayonnaise, use it to thicken soups in place of milk, mix it into a salad as a dressing, drizzle it over roasted vegetables, or toss it with zucchini noodles for a faux pasta dish that tastes amazing. Trade in your old condiments for creatively flavored hummus’ on the market. The list of roasted chickpeas nutritional benefits goes on and on when it comes to weight loss.
Use it as inspiration!
Lastly, use it as an inspiration to simply take better care of yourself. Hummus is a Mediterranean food and it represents the principles followed in the Mediterranean Diet, an eating plan getting a lot of traction for being very healthy and balanced.
Here at Hope, we live to eat! Because of that, we make sure we are conscious about everything we put in our bodies and our hummus. We live healthy and balanced lives and we want others to do that as well. Let the health benefits of hummus and its star ingredients of chickpeas and garbanzo beans inspire you to let food nourish your body and your soul.
