Why eating chickpeas is so good for you

Buttery goodness all round

Chickpeas are becoming a popular choice for people wanting to live a healthier lifestyle, lose weight or save money on staple foods.

They're amazing in salads, great as a toasted snack and make a satisfying side to just about any meal.

Versatile and inexpensive

Because they're so versatile, you can flavour them with whatever you have in your fridge or cupboard. I love squeezing a bit of lemon juice on top and sprinkling them with dried parsley, salt and pepper.

Another reason why they're so great is because they're inexpensive and can be found at your local supermarket. You can buy them in a tin or cook them from scratch.

A tasty meat replacement

If you're trying to cut out meat, chickpeas is a perfect substitute because they're packed full of protein, fibre, iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6.

Weight loss

According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2010, by simply increasing your legume consumption of at least two servings a day, you can significantly reduce your waist circumference.

Health benefits

Chickpeas have plenty of health benefits. When eaten regularly they:

• Are a great source of protein for vegetarians.

• Provide an iron boost, which is especially good for menstruating women, pregnant or lactating women.

• Can lower the risk of a heart attack.

• Protect against osteoporosis.

• Minimise hot flushes in post-menopausal women.

• Can lower the risk of breast cancer.

• Help to balance out blood sugar levels.

If you enjoyed reading this article, you might also like to read: Shed the weight by replacing meat with legumes

Sources: Livestrong.com and Naturalfoodbenefits.com

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