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Recipes with Chickpea (Garbanzo): Sweet Potato Fries & Red Pepper Hummus
The short answer is yes, chickpeas are good for you. Here are some of the ways:
The fiber in chickpeas is nearly 75% insoluble and remains undigested as it reaches the colon. This significantly bulks up stools for a satisfying morning elimination.
As with many high fiber foods, beans have been shown to reduce cholesterol, perhaps because of their flushing effect on the gallbladder. The high protein content in beans helps rebuild muscle tissue as winter hibernation yields to outdoor activities and projects.
Chickpeas have a higher amount of tryptophan than other legumes. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, helps regulate sleep and emotions. Using chickpeas in recipes adds a soothing, comfort food feeling.
Beans are the "musical fruit" because they are difficult to digest, as they contain saponins to protect themselves against digestion by insects.
You can see these saponins when you cook beans. As saponins are released, they form a sudsy foam on the surface of a cooking pot of beans. These saponins prevent protein digestion resulting in stagnation and gas of the bowels. Among legumes, chickpeas are easier to digest, having a Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score of about .76.
Buying & Preparation
Pressure cooked beans (as in an InstantPot) are easiest to digest. Although canned foods are frowned upon in Ayurveda, we find canned beans easier to digest. Sprouted and soaked beans are also easier to digest.
Cooking Chickpea (Garbanzo)
Chickpeas are a chief ingredient in cuisines from India to the Middle East where they have been cultivated for at least 7,500 years.
They are a chief ingredient in hummus and falafel. In India, dried chickpeas are ground into a flour called Besan that is used in savory hors d'oeuvres, as a batter in fried foods, and in desserts. They may be eaten cold in salads.
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Is Chickpea (Garbanzo) Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?
Find out by taking this free, easy quiz.
You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Chickpea (Garbanzo)' is a good fit.
Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.
AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT
Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances.
With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you.
Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature.
By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health.
See How it Works.
Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics
(gunas).
Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance.
By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick.
Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold).
You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food.
Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body.
Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food.
Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods.
Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion.
Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste.
One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes.
The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine,
people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person.
Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness.
Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency.
Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses.
The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.
The 3 functional body types
(doshas),
are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry.
Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed.
Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.
Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Chickpea (Garbanzo)
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.
STRONG HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE
A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The large size of the stool stimulates peristalsis so the stool can pass more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydr
A herb that contracts tissue or blood vessels. Generally styptics are astringent. They are often used topically as a hemostatic to stop bleeding, or to reduce secretions.
Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.
Inositol is an alcohol sugar made naturally in the human body from glucose. It is lipotropic (aiding fat metabilism in the liver). It affects a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, steroid, growth factors and water.
Phytates prevent absorption of nutrients. They are commonly found in all seeds, including nuts, grains, and beans. Sprouting greatly reduces phytate content, as well as long, slow cooking with vinegar.
In each clinical research trial below, students from the
Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects.
See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.
TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your temperature?
0
2
22
1
0
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your ear temperature?
1
23
1
Hotter
No Change
Cooler
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your sweat quantity?
0
1
24
0
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of your skin?
0
0
0
1
24
Yellower/Greener
Paler
Redder
Grayer
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of your tongue body?
5
0
0
20
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the swelling of your tongue body?
2
0
23
More Swelling
Less Swelling
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your appetite/hunger?
2
14
8
1
0
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your digestion speed?
0
2
13
8
2
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
TOXINS
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the amount of gas & bloating?
1
0
14
9
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your stool smell?
0
1
17
6
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
0
1
14
9
1
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of your tongue coating?
1
0
1
10
13
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your throat soreness?
0
25
0
More sore
No Change
Less sore
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your urine smell?
0
0
23
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
0
0
22
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your sweat smell?
0
1
24
0
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your acne?
0
24
1
More acne
No Change
Less acne
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your freckles/moles?
0
25
0
Darker
No Change
Lighter
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of your sclera (white part of eye)?
0
0
0
0
1
Redder/Bloodshot
Yellower
Grayer
Browner
Whiter
24
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of the lower eye lid?
0
0
25
0
More green/dark green
More purple
No Change
Less green/purple
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
HYDRATION
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your urine frequency/quantity?
0
4
21
0
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the dryness of your skin?
5
2
18
Drier
Oilier
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the puffiness of lower eye lid?
0
25
0
Puffier
No Change
Less Puffy
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the cracks on your tongue?
0
4
18
3
0
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
FLUID-THICKNESS
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your ear pressure?
1
23
1
More pressure
No Change
Less pressure
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your congestion?
1
23
1
More congestion
No Change
Less congestion
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the thickness of your mucous congestion?
1
22
2
More thick
No Change
Less thick
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
NERVOUS-SYSTEM
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your energy levels?
0
4
13
8
0
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your muscle tension?
0
2
20
3
0
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your anxiety?
0
5
17
3
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the stillness of your tongue?
1
23
1
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
DIGESTION
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the amount of gas & bloating?
1
0
14
9
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your appetite/hunger?
2
14
8
1
0
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect burning sensations in digestive tract (do not include acid reflux)?
1
1
20
3
0
Much relief
Slight relief
Same
Slightly more burning
Much more burning
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your digestion speed?
0
2
13
8
2
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
TONGUE
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the stillness of your tongue?
1
23
1
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
0
1
14
9
1
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the cracks on your tongue?
0
4
18
3
0
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of your tongue body?
5
0
0
20
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of your tongue coating?
1
0
1
10
13
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the swelling of your tongue body?
2
0
23
More Swelling
Less Swelling
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
STOOL
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your stool smell?
0
1
17
6
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your stool consistency?
0
5
11
8
1
Much softer
Slightly softer
Same
Slightly harder
Much harder
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your stool frequency/quantity?
1
6
14
4
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your stool color?
3
1
1
0
20
More yellow
More gray
More green
More orange
Same
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your stool lightness?
0
4
19
2
0
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly darker
Much darker
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
URINE
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your urine smell?
0
0
23
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your urine lightness?
0
1
23
1
0
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly Darker
Much Darker
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your urine frequency/quantity?
0
4
21
0
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
0
0
22
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your urine clarity?
1
21
3
More cloudy
Same
More clear
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
SWEAT
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your sweat smell?
0
1
24
0
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your sweat quantity?
0
1
24
0
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
SKIN
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the dryness of your skin?
5
2
18
Drier
Oilier
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of your skin?
0
0
0
1
24
Yellower/Greener
Paler
Redder
Grayer
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your freckles/moles?
0
25
0
Darker
No Change
Lighter
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your acne?
0
24
1
More acne
No Change
Less acne
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
EYE
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of the lower eye lid?
0
0
25
0
More green/dark green
More purple
No Change
Less green/purple
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the puffiness of lower eye lid?
0
25
0
Puffier
No Change
Less Puffy
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the color of your sclera (white part of eye)?
0
0
0
0
1
Redder/Bloodshot
Yellower
Grayer
Browner
Whiter
24
No Change
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
ENT
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your congestion?
1
23
1
More congestion
No Change
Less congestion
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your ear pressure?
1
23
1
More pressure
No Change
Less pressure
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your throat soreness?
0
25
0
More sore
No Change
Less sore
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect the thickness of your mucous congestion?
1
22
2
More thick
No Change
Less thick
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your ear temperature?
1
23
1
Hotter
No Change
Cooler
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
SYSTEMIC
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your anxiety?
0
5
17
3
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your temperature?
0
2
22
1
0
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your energy levels?
0
4
13
8
0
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your muscle tension?
0
2
20
3
0
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
HEART
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your heart pain/pressure/cramping?
0
0
25
0
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your heart rate?
0
0
23
2
0
Much slower
Slightly slower
Same
Slightly faster
Much faster
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
How did Chick Pea (Garbanzo) affect your heart rhythm?
0
25
0
More palpitations
Same
Less palpitations
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:90 (2022-03-26 - 2022-04-11)
Chickpea (Garbanzo) may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when
right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in
Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire
reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once
you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
Give smart recommendations to your clients and improve efficiency in your clinic with these tools.
About the Author
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a
healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics.
His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful.
John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda,
offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.
John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel,
as well as public service work in South Asia.
John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem.
His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion.
John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing.
In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots,
and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church.
Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick.
That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.