Hummus A Strong Source of Protein

With the holidays coming up, many people are worried about what’s going to happen to their waistline. With holiday parties, various dips and spreads laid out on the table, or college parties filled with soda and pizza, it’s easy to lose count of the plethora of calories being ingested. If you’re concerned about your weight, or simply want to eat healthy this year, hummus might become your go-to option for eating healthy this holiday season. With tons of hummus brands and flavors at your local grocery store, it’s a wonder why more people don’t eat this tasty and protein packed food.
What is Hummus?
Hummus is a dip that is quickly rivaling other popular items like pico de gallo salsa and southwestern salsa. This dip traces back to the 13th century in the Middle East, and is commonly made with chickpeas, garlic, and tahini. Chickpeas themselves were cultivated around 3,000 B.C. and is considered one of the earliest cultivated vegetables. They’re also commonly referred to as Egyptian pea, Bengal gram, or garbanzo beans.
Ew, Beans. I’m Not Eating That
Perhaps you’ll reconsider once you find out that there are numerous flavors of hummus. Maybe you’d like basil pesto hummus or roasted red pepper hummus? Or maybe roasted garlic hummus? Of course, nothing can beat a good, wholesome classic hummus. There are tons of hummus brands all over the market. You’re more than likely to find a brand or flavor that you’ll like.
Okay So It’s Tasty. So what?
So what? Here’s what. The average American doesn’t get enough vegetables. In fact, nine out of ten Americans don’t get nearly enough vegetables, and this includes nutrient-dense beans. Most people eat a cup of vegetables a day, and half of that consists of protein-rich beans. You could cover your weekly recommended amount of beans with two spoonfuls of hummus a day. If you keep this regiment on a daily basis you’d have a 22 percent lower risk of CHD and 11 percent lower risk of heart disease. Oh, and those who make hummus and chickpeas a part of their main diet tend to have higher HEI (Healthy Eating Index), significantly lower BMI (Body Mass Index), and a trimmer waistline.
So next time you’re at a holiday party and the host is serving hummus, don’t go, “Ew.” Take a cracker and dip into that sucker all night long.