Garbanzo Bean Nutrition Tidbit

Garbanzo beans are the world’s most consumed legume. Some varieties of garbanzo beans can be popped and eaten like popcorn.

Garbanzo beans, known as chickpeas, are also one of the world’s oldest foods: 7,500-year-old remains have been found in the Middle East. They are called “garbanzo beans” in Spanish and Latin cultures, and the word “chickpea” is derived from the French chiche to cicer, Latin for ‘chickpea’. “Apicius”, an ancient collection of Roman recipes and one of the oldest cookbooks known to humankind, features recipes for chickpeas.

The Nutritional Benefits of Wild Oats Organic Garbanzo Beans:

Nutritionally Authentic:

USDA Certified Organic food product

Nutritionally Affordable:

Fat-free

High in antioxidants and fiber, available at an affordable price

An inexpensive protein source

Nutritionally Accessible:

Shelf-stable pantry solution, easy to store and use quickly in recipes

Medical Nutrition Therapy Tips and Solutions:

Pregnancy:  beans are high in B vitamins, especially folate. Folate is important for women to consume during their child bearing years because it prevents against neutral tube birth defects.

Anemia: Garbanzo beans are high in iron, and eating foods rich in iron prevents against anemia.

Vegetarians: They are an excellent source of protein for vegetarians.

Children: Bump up your child’s fiber intake by serving them heart healthy, preservative free hummus and organic vegetable sticks.

Child/Adolescence/Teenage: Pack a 1/4 cup hummus in an airtight to-go container, along with some whole grain crackers and organic vegetable sticks, as a grab-n-go snack for kids and teens on the run.

Athletes all of ages: Easily digestible fuel source for before or after exercise.

Adult/College/Elderly: Boost brain function by including magnesium-rich garbanzo beans in your daily diet.

Elderly: Pureed to soft texture; can be eaten without teeth.

Diabetes: Garbanzo beans have a nice balance of carbohydrates and fiber, so they won’t spike blood sugar rapidly.

High Blood Pressure: Rinse the canned beans to wash away added sodium.