Fava beans, also called broad beans, are cultivated in Mediterranean and Asian countries and are scientifically known as Vicia Faba, a legume family member. They are one of the famous bean varieties.
A thick leathery peel that has green flat oval-shaped seeds inside. It is a little cheesy, has an earthy-nutty flavor which is slightly bitter-sweet in taste.
Fava Beans can be easily grown in your home gardens during the spring season as it loves cool weather. It needs a temperature range of around 40-70 degrees Fahrenheit, 60 degrees would be the sweet spot.
What Is The Glycemic Index Of Fava Beans?
The Glycemic Index value of fava is 79 (high).
We have to eat fava beans specifically to avoid any side effects or glucose level fluctuation.
If we intake fava beans without peeling them off or eat an old-grown fava bean, it shows a high glycemic response. At the same time, eating this vegetable’s fresh, non-roasted, peeled beans has proven beneficial.
What Are The Benefits Of Fava Beans?
Fava beans are filled with various nutritious. A full cup or 100 grams of fava beans contains 26.12 gm of protein, 1.53 gm of fat, 58.29 gm of carbohydrates, 341 kcal of energy, and 25 gm of dietary fiber.
It also has minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.
It contains Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, C & K. Besides. It includes a lot of antioxidants and a lower amount of fats.
Hence, all these nutritional benefits help weight management, improve high blood pressure, reduce blood cholesterol levels, decrease the risk of heart disease or strokes, protect from breast cancer, build up your bone health, and strengthen your immune system.
It contains the property of L-Dopa or Levo-Dopamine, which helps to keep your brain healthy. It also keeps you away from any symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Can Diabetics Eat Fava Beans?
The answer is “YES.”
Like any other beans, fava beans are also suitable for diabetes patients. Fava beans are high in fiber which is good for weight loss; it is a good fit for diabetes management. But again, as usually eat fresh beans.
Because eating old-grown beans or canned beans changes the equation, they may have added sugar and more carbohydrates, which can raise your sugar levels. So, avoid eating those if you have diabetes.
Can Type 2 Diabetics Eat Fava Beans?
Developing Type-2 diabetes is unlikely if you have a healthy BMI.
Like maximum green vegies, fava beans are good for diabetes patients, but not to add it to their daily meals.
Because of its high glycemic index, fava beans daily can fluctuate your blood sugar levels. Instead, having a bowl full of fava beans with a flavor of garlic and a pinch of black pepper once in a week won’t do any harm.
Can Gestational Diabetes Eat Fava Beans?
Means can fava beans be eaten by pregnant diabetics’ women?
Again, the answer is Yes. As fava beans have Vitamin B9, it reduces the risk of birth defects.
Vitamin B9 or folate (folic acid) is fantastic in providing energy to the body. And fava beans have a specific amount of folic acid, which eases the first trimester of pregnancy, which is the most crucial stage of the birth process. It reduces certain types of congenital disabilities.
What Are The Side Effects Of Fava Beans?
Suppose you are feeling a little dizzy or unwell after eating fava beans. In that case, you should get instant medical help or get vaccinated because you may be having an allergic reaction to this vegetable.
Yes, many people, most probably men, ought to have an allergic reaction from fava beans called hemolytic anemia. Some people get this kind of reaction just from smelling the collen of Fava Beans.
It can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, gallstones, jaundice, etc. This reaction from fava beans is called Favism, which means you have a deficiency of G6PD (glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase).
So be sure that you are not allergic to fava beans, or the results could be pretty harmful to you.
Are Roasted Fava Beans Good For Diabetics?
Here the answer changes to NO.
As I mentioned earlier, old-grown beans are not suitable if you are a diabetes patient. Roasting fava beans does the process of hardening the beans and increasing the level of carbohydrates in them, which kills most of its nutritional benefits.
Roasted fava beans might have been considered a good snack, but no one should take it with diabetes. It plays the same role as canned or packed one.
But instead of roasting, you may cook it with different spices, boil it or use it in your salad. In that way, you can get different flavors for your sweet tongue and enjoy those not so tasty beans.
You can mix these seeds in your main course; add these in pizza, pasta, risotto, noodles, soups, or any cuisine you like.
Or you may simply steam the fava beans until they become soft and add them with chopped onions, carrots, and garlic and mix it with little pepper and salt. It’ll satisfy your taste buds like heaven.
Top 3 Fava Beans Items To Buy On Amazon!
- Plant-Based Protein, Gluten Free, Vegan, Crunchy Roasted Broad (Fava) Bean Snacks
- Fava Beans, Extra Large 16 oz
- Bob’s Red Mill BEANS FAVA, 20 Ounce, Pack of 4
Conclusion:
Fava beans are known with different names in places like Broad Beans and Horse Beans. It has several beneficiary health properties. Its healthy young seeds are good to add to our diet plan.
If you don’t like to eat it raw, you can spice it up and give it your flavor, as fava beans are versatile to mix in your recipes.
But you should check your medical condition that these beans are not harming you.
You can add a new plant in your backyard or terrace garden as it can be quickly grown to throw its seeds, and eating fresh fava beans is much tasty and healthy rather than having the old ones. It could prove a great addition to your healthy balanced diet.