The popularity of hummus has exploded in the United States in recent years with double digit increases in sales. Originally a dietary staple in the Middle East, part of the increase is due to wide spread availability which has come at least partially in accordance with a revitalized health consciousness by the American populace. Hummus is made from ground chickpeas and olive oil which provide numerous health benefits for consumers. This article will provide four of the major health benefits from eating hummus.
Protein
Most Americans obtain more than adequate amounts of protein from the meat and cheese that they consume on a daily basis. For vegetarians and vegans, obtaining complete proteins is more difficult as plant based proteins generally will lack certain amino acids in them. As chickpeas are legumes, they contain a significant amount of protein in them and provide significant amounts of these amino acids that are typically absent in plant based foods. For vegans and vegetarians hummus provides a healthy source of protein that can help to supplement the proteins you receive from other food items and help to provide for a balanced diet.
Good and Bad Fat
Hummus has no saturated fat in it which is what is known as the “bad fat” and has significant amounts of Omega 3 fats in them which is known as “good fat” and can help to reduce cholesterol and reduce the risk for other heart diseases. Omega 3 fatty acids are not commonly presented in non-meat foods which make hummus doubly important for vegetarians. By reducing cholesterol and avoiding the bad fats, hummus provides numerous nutritional benefits associated with it.
Fiber
Having a significant amount of fiber in your diet can provide numerous health benefits including reducing your appetite, increasing regularity, and improving the overall functioning of your intestinal track. By filling you up, high fiber based foods such as hummus help you to avoid other foods that may be high in calories and saturated gats. Chickpeas, like all legumes, have significant amounts of fiber in them and thus improve your overall body functioning and reduce your appetite.
Nutritional Benefits
Chickpeas and hummus are both laden with numerous vitamins such as iron, folic acid, B vitamins, and various amino acids. Folic acid is beneficial to aspiring parents and plays a critical role in fetus development. B6 reduces the risk of heart disease and has been linked to improved brain functionality. Iron is important for bone development. Further, B6 and other vitamins and amino acids in hummus are not commonly occurring in non-meat based foods and hummus is therefore an essential food for vegans and vegetarians.
Conclusion
As the main component of hummus, chickpeas are one of those super foods that contain numerous health benefits and little health impediments. Hummus is also doubly important for vegetarians and vegans to consider adding to their diet as it provides protein and other nutrition typically limited to animal based foods. As such, consider adding hummus to your diet on a regular basis just as many Americans are now doing as a spread on sandwiches or simply by itself as a side dish to realize some of the health benefits noted above.
Today’s guest post was provided by Amanda Sani from Mezza Cafe, home of the best hummus in Dallas. Amanda is a sophomore at Stanford University studying Science, Technology and Society. She is originally from sunny San Diego, California.
