What are Garbanzos?
The Latin name for garbanzo beans,
Cicer arietinum, means "small ram," reflecting the
unique shape of this legume that somewhat resembles a ram's head.
Garbanzo beans are also referred to as chickpeas, Bengal grams and
Egyptian peas. Garbanzo beans are an excellent source of molybdenum
and manganese. They are also a very good source of folate and a good
source of protein, dietary fiber, copper, phosphorus and iron. Garbanzo Beans and also known as chickpeas, that provides a good source of protein that can be enjoyed year-round and are available either dried or canned.
Garbanzos Health Benefits
Garbanzos are a good source of fiber to
lower cholesterol, as are most other beans. In addition garbanzos'
high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too
rapidly after a meal, making these beans an especially good choice
for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia.
Garbanzos Lower Heart Attack Risks
Research says food patterns of higher
consumption of dairy products in Northern Europe and a higher
consumption of meat in the USA that examined food intake patterns and
risk of death from coronary heart disease because of a lower
consumption of legumes. When researchers analyzed this data in
relation to the risk of death from heart disease, they found that
legumes were associated with a whopping 82% reduction of this risk
Garbanzos Lower Cholesterol
According
to Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism has shown that
including garbanzo beans, specifically, in the diet significantly
lowers both total and LDL "bad" cholesterol. The
garbanzo-supplemented diet, which provided slightly less protein and
fat, and more carbohydrate than the wheat-supplemented diet, resulted
in a significant 3.9% drop in total cholesterol, which was largely
due to a 4.6% drop in LDL "bad" cholesterol. Also including
Garbanzos' contribution to heart health lies not just in their fiber,
but in the significant amounts of folate and magnesium beans supply.
Garbanzos Releases Energy and
Stabilizes Body Sugar Level
In effects on the digestive system and
the heart, soluble fiber helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Studies
of high fiber diets and blood sugar levels have shown the dramatic
benefits provided by these high fiber foods.
Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:56 pm