Also known as ‘broad beans’ or ‘horse beans’, fava beans, like most all other legumes, provide you with a number of health advantages. They are loaded with vitamins: K, C, and nutrients zinc, copper, iron, magnesium and more. Read on for these Top 5 Health Benefits of Fava Beans!
1. Help keep your cholesterol in check
Fava beans are high in both soluble and insoluble fibre, which is important for keeping your digestive system working properly. Soluble fibre is particularly effective at lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, commonly referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
2. Weight loss
As fava beans are high both in protein and fibre (plus relatively low in calories), it’s a winning combination for weight loss as it makes you feel fuller for longer. They also contain complex carbohydrates, which means you won’t get sugar spikes and they’ll help to reduce your cravings as well.
3. Full of folate
Fava beans are one of many foods that are rich in folate. Folate (vitamin B9) along with B12 is an essential vitamin needed for copying and synthesizing your DNA, producing new cells and supporting nerve and immune functions. Folate is also important during pregnancy since it can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects.
4. Heart health
The magnesium, manganese and potassium in fava beans help regulate your blood pressure, thereby helping reduce the risk of you getting heart disease. Because these beans contain no dietary cholesterol and are extremely low in saturated fat, choosing fava beans instead of animal sources of protein will further promote your heart health.
5. Cancer-fighting
These beans are also rich in phytonutrients; also called phytochemicals, these are chemicals produced by plants. Consuming a diet rich in phytonutrients helps prevent a wide range of diseases. It seems to be an “effective strategy” for reducing cancer and heart disease risks – according to USDA.
There are lots of simple ways to incorporate this fabulous fava food into your daily diet. Why not try fava beans instead of the regular green peas or beans with your next meal? The only trick is how to cook them -so check out the video above, follow the easy steps and your digestion will thank you later! Got a fava recipe or something to share about them, let us know below or @KeepFitKingdom !
