Are Chickpeas Healthy for Weight Loss?

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans in the west, belongs to the legume family and is grown extensively all over the world. Chickpeas are also widely used in Indian cooking. Chicpeas can be categorized as highly nutritious because they are rich in vitamins, fiber, and fiber. They are also a rich source of protein, but for those who are on a diet, every calorie counts, including the presence of carbs and protein. So, are chickpeas healthy for weight loss? Do chickpeas add a lot of pounds if you consume them regularly? Read on to find the answers:

Nutrition Density in Chickpeas:
Controlling your calorie intake is the key to weight loss, but it’s equally important to ensure that your body gets enough nutrients and vitamins in those restricted calories that you consume. Chickpeas are one of the best options that matches this criteria. A cup of chickpeas has 269 calories which is moderately high, but when mixed with low-calories vegetables, it is very filling and cut down your overall calorie intake. So, if you eat 1,500 calories a day, a cup of chickpeas will take up 18 percent of your daily caloric intake.

Protein and Fiber Content of Chickpeas:
Chickpeas are also a great source of protein and dietary fiber, which are two nutrients that help with weight control. Each cup of chickpeas offers 15 grams of protein and up to 13 grams of fiber. The fiber content in chickpeas helps you to feel full for longer. It also keeps appetite under check. One would not feel hungry for a long time after consuming chickpeas, so there would be limited snacking, and increased chances of losing weight.

Does Chickpea Help in Weight Loss?
Thus, chickpeas have several properties that may help us lose weight. They have a fairly low calorie density and this means that they provide the body few calories relative to the amount of nutrients they contain. They help us to keep our appetite under control and thus helps in cutting down snacking and gorging on junk food, helping us cut down on junk food and empty calories.

The protein in chickpeas may promote weight loss as protein has a high thermic effect, which means your body burns a lot of energy, in the form of calories, just breaking protein down into its individual amino acids. Protein’s thermic effect is 30 percent, which means you’ll burn 30 percent of the calories during digestion itself.

To conclude, chickpeas are a great healthy option for weight loss and they can fit into a diet that’s high in protein and fiber, which is effective for weight loss. So, try adding chickpeas to your salads, soups, sandwiches or in the place of meat or make your own homemade hummus with tahini.