Nutty and hearty, chickpeas are the star ingredient in Middle Eastern and Persian foods, such as hummus, falafel, and vegetable stew. Also known as garbanzo beans, this popular legume offers many health benefits and is a tasty substitute for meat. Below are several advantages of including chickpeas in daily meals and why your body will thank you for it.

How Chickpeas Can Benefit Your Health

1. Aid Digestion

One cup of these beans provides 40% of your daily fiber requirement. Chickpeas contain raffinose, a soluble fiber that helps the colon with comfortable digestion. This will reduce the frequency of stomach aches and pains if you are prone to these issues. If you eat chickpeas regularly, it can also prevent constipation and encourage regular bowel movements. 

2. Provide Nutrients

The next time you’re at a Persian food restaurant, consider ordering a tasty falafel, which consists of ground chickpeas. With each bite, you’ll consume a variety of nutrients that boost your overall health. These include calcium for strong bones, protein for muscle strength, and vitamin B, which maintains proper iron levels in the blood to prevent fatigue and headaches. 

3. Prevent High Blood Pressure

Chickpeas also contain potassium, which is essential for maintaining adequate blood pressure levels. The key is to eat more foods with potassium while limiting those with high amounts of salt. Enjoying a bowl of delicious hummus prepared at a Persian food eatery—with heart-friendly olive oil, garlic, tahini, and freshly-squeezed lemon juice—can do wonders for helping to prevent high blood pressure. This lowers the risk of heart disease, tastes delicious in the process.

4. Curb Overeating

Impulsive eating can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Because chickpeas have considerable fiber and protein, they may aid with appetite control and prevent overeating. Consuming chickpeas can help you feel full naturally and safely, without overeating. There is less temptation to binge eat, which can add on unwanted pounds and cause health issues.

Accessible and affordable, chickpeas are worth including in your daily meals. Sufi’s Kitchen in Atlanta, GA, incorporates them in many of its popular dishes. The premier Persian food restaurant prepares its Sufi veggie stew with the legume along with spicy sautéed eggplant, onions, garlic, tomato sauce, and saffron basmati rice. All entrees use fresh ingredients and aromatic spices and utilize traditional Persian cooking methods. Check out the full menu online. Ask about reservations by calling (404) 888-9699.