Fava Beans Health Benefits

If you recently tried a fava bean-based dish and loved it, then you're probably searching for more ways that you can incorporate this bean into your diet. Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are legumes regularly consumed in Southern Europe, Northern Europe, East Asia, Latin America and North Africa. Most popular during springtime when they're harvested, fava beans are one of the oldest known foods and have been cultivated and consumed for nearly 10,000 years.

Quickly becoming popular worldwide, fava beans are available at most grocery stores in dried, canned and fresh varieties. You can use these beans to make soup, stews, paste and even falafel. And while there's no doubt that this legume is excellent tasting, one of the questions often asked is if it has any health benefits. If you plan on cooking with fava beans and want to ensure that you add nutritional value to your meals, you're in luck. This article will dive into fava beans health benefits and provide recipes you can try today.

The Benefits of Fava Beans

The benefits of fava beans are plentiful. Fava beans are rich in many nutrients, which promote better health in unique ways. Since cultivation, fava beans have been used to treat many ailments and are one of the most inexpensive ways to meet your daily nutrient requirements. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of fava beans and what makes them a great addition to a healthy diet.

Fava Beans Are a Source of Folate

Fava beans are a quality source of folate—a vital vitamin for energy metabolism. Sufficient folate levels support the nervous system's function and assist in synthesizing DNA, RNA, and red blood cells. Eating a diet rich in beans can help boost your folate intake and may decrease your risk of certain diseases and depression. 

Fava Beans Increase Iron Intake

Meeting your daily requirement for iron is essential to good health. Iron helps produce red blood cells and provides your body with a primary cellular energy source known as adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. A diet lacking iron may make you more susceptible to developing anemia and other health problems. One serving—1/4 cup of fava beans—provides 10% of your daily recommended iron intake. The iron found in fava beans is in non-heme form and not as easily absorbed by the body. However, you can quickly increase the amount that you absorb by combining fava beans with meat or a source of vitamin C. Enjoying fava beans as a side dish to steak, chicken, or fish is an excellent way to incorporate both forms of iron into your diet.

Fava Beans Contain Dietary Fiber

Incorporating fava beans into your meals can work wonders for your digestive health. Like most legumes, fava beans contain two types of fiber— soluble and insoluble. However, they are especially rich in insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber promotes a healthy digestive system, regularity and a balanced gut biome, and eating adequate amounts of it will help keep your body feeling its best. 1/4 cup of cooked fava beans supplies 29% of an adult's daily dietary fiber requirement.

Fava Beans Are an Excellent Meat Substitute

Fava beans are a good source of protein and iron, making them a fantastic meat substitute. Protein is a nutrient required by the body to perform basic tasks, and without it, It's nearly impossible for us to function. Our skin, brain cells, muscles, hair and nails all require protein to remain healthy and strong. The issue is that many people following a plant-based diet find it hard to fill their meals with protein-rich ingredients. Meat is often recognized as one of the most protein-rich foods around. However, many plant-based protein sources, like fava beans, provide just as much, if not more, of it. Adding fava beans to soups and salads or using them to create a plant-based burger alternative is an excellent way to ensure that you meet your daily protein requirements.

Now that you know just how great fava beans are for you, you can begin adding them to your homemade meals. Work fava beans into recipes that you already know you love, or search our online recipe book to find a new bean-based dish to create. Fava beans can be added to nearly any soup or stew recipe and are an excellent substitute for lima beans when you don't have any on hand. Share your favorite fava bean meals with us in the comments below. We can't wait to see what you come up with. From the Bob's Red Mill family to yours, happy cooking!