5 Amazing Health Benefits Of Eating Fava Beans

The fava bean, alternatively known as broad bean, is a large, flat, green leguminous vegetable.

The earliest record of its cultivation dates back to Old World Agriculture prevalent in the Neolithic times, about 6000 years ago, probably in Persia and Egypt. Traces of fava beans have also been unearthed in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, indicating that these legumes enjoyed royal patronage even in that era. No wonder then that fava beans became somewhat of a staple food all over the in the region thereafter.

Fava beans, along with a wide array of other legumes such as lentils and chickpea, continue to dominate Mediterranean and North African cuisines.

However, the acclaim for these beans that thrive in warm climates is no longer limited to their place of origin. In fact, a lot of people grow this winter season crop in their own backyard or kitchen garden.

* Promotes Heart Health and Reduces Cholesterol

Fava beans are celebrated by health enthusiasts as a rich source of dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Besides keeping your digestive system working smoothly, the fibrous nature of this mighty legume can benefit your cardiovascular health.

There is enough research-based evidence that would suggest that the soluble fiber in foods, such as in fava beans, binds to low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or bad cholesterol) in the bloodstream and facilitates its elimination from the body.

* May Reduce Parkinson’s Symptoms

Parkinson’s disease is a progressively degenerative neurological disorder that compromises the motor system. This disease is associated with the death of dopamine-producing cells in the brain, which leads to difficulty in initiating, coordinating, and controlling movement.

The conventional treatment for Parkinson’s rests primarily on drugs containing L-dopa, an amino acid that aids in the synthesis of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.

* May Help Prevent Birth Defects

The primordial importance of a wholesome and nutrient-rich diet to ensure a healthy pregnancy is not news to anybody. While all of us need a steady supply of folate and vitamin B12 for the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and red blood cells, expecting mothers are recommended additional supplementation of these critical nutrients.

Adequate folate intake around conception and during pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of neural tube defects, spina bifida, and anencephaly in the newborn baby.

* Help with Weight Management

Fava beans are a weight-watcher’s delight in more ways than one. Not only do they help promote feelings of satiety, but these healthful legumes can also pave the way for weight loss.

Fava beans have all the characteristics in order to be part of a nutrient-dense low-calorie diet. They have both soluble and insoluble fiber as well as plenty of proteins. Fiber and protein together help keep you full for a very long period of time, thereby staving off overeating or unnecessary snacking.

* Immune Booster

Fava beans are replete with antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, copper, iron, and zinc, all of which enhance the functioning of the immune system in their respective ways.

A substantial part of its antioxidant effects can also be attributed to the high contents of L-dopa, and various compounds called kaempferol glycosides found in fava bean sprouts.