One of the earliest cultivated legumes, Chickpea is an annual legume of the family “Fabaceae”.  It is variously known as gramor Bengal gram, garbanzo or garbanzo bean, Egyptian pea, chana, and chole. This highly nutritious pulse is placed third in the importance list of the food legumes that are cultivated throughout the world.

High in protein Chickpeas are a rich source of vitamins, minerals & fiber and provides numerous health benefits such as improving digestion, aiding weight management and reducing the risk of several diseases. The chickpea is an important legume in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine and is generally known as ‘Chole’ & ‘Kabuli Chana’ in the Indian market. In 2017, India produced 67% of the world’s total for chickpeas. Chickpeas are basically used in making chana masala, hummus, falafel, salads, soups, and chole curry. They make an excellent replacement for meat in vegetarian and vegan diets.

One cup of cooked chickpeas contains:

• 269 calories (approx)
• 45 g of carbohydrate
• 15 g of protein
• 13 g of dietary fiber
• 4 g of fat
• 0 g of cholesterol

Here are 8 ways your body can benefit from chickpeas and reasons why you should add them in your diet:

1. Improved Brain Function
Choline is a water-soluble vitamin-like essential nutrient present in chickpeas. It enhances cognitive performance in the body & mind, including better memory and processing. Choline is a constituent of lecithin, which is present in eggs and in many plants and animal organs, so for vegetarians and vegans, chickpeas are best.
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2. Healthier Bones
Chickpeas are good source calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, vitamin A & vitamin K. All of these are good for the production of collagen which is a major component of connective tissues, including tendons, ligaments, muscles and helps in strengthening the bones.
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3. Improved Skin Health
Vitamins are very important for healthy skin. Chickpeas contain vitamin C which helps keep your skin healthy, vitamin E which protects against sun damage, & vitamin K which helps in heal wounds and blood clotting. It also helps in eliminating wrinkles from the skin.
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4. Improved Eye Health
vitamin A precursor β-carotene, present in Chickpeas has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps reduce the risk of eye-related diseases.
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5. Better Hair Growth
Vitamin A, vitamin B & protein present in chickpeas can help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. Though hair growth is dependent on various factors including genetic characteristics and countless environmental factors, having chickpeas in your daily diet can help you immensely.
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6. Lower Blood Sugar Levels
As chickpeas are high in fiber and protein, they help prevent blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after eating, which is also important for managing diabetes. Magnesium and zinc present in the legume also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
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7. Weight Loss
Protein and fiber in chickpeas slow down the digestion process, making people feel fuller for longer and thereby lowering overall calorie intake. They also help reduce appetite and food intake which can lead to weight loss.
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8.Reduced Blood Pressure
Potassium and magnesium present in Chickpeas can help prevent high blood pressure, which can minimize the chance of suffering from a heart attack or stroke.
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Do you know any tasty chickpea recipes? Please share them with everyone in the comment section below!