You’ll hear the term “legumes” a lot when it comes to food and dieting. Legumes are often recommended to people who want to cut out carbs or meat. They’re supposed to give you a range of nutrients and benefits.
They’re excellent for weight loss. Legumes help to give your body sustained energy, keeping you feeling fuller for longer. You’ll also consume fewer calories than you would if you ate carbs or even some meats.
But you don’t just want to spend your time eating any legume. You want to eat these specific seven ones for their weight loss aid properties.
Stock Up on Chickpeas
The first legume you want to add to your diet is the chickpea. Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are full of nutritional benefits but are lower in calories than many other legumes out there. They’re also excellent for substituting grains and carbs while keeping your energy levels support throughout the day.
It’s the fiber count in chickpeas that helps the most. Fiber is a necessary food group that keeps your digestive system working. The body finds it harder to break down fiber than carbs and fats so that it will get rid of it slowly. You’ll feel fuller naturally since the body isn’t able to get rid of the food. With the slower breakdown, you’ll also find that you don’t get the sugar rush that many carbs will give you.
The fiber will also help to support the digestive system. When your digestive system is working effectively, your body absorbs all the right nutrients and will balance the hormones. The immune system works properly, meaning your mental and physical health benefit. You won’t give into the emotional food cravings as much as if you didn’t eat chickpeas, helping you keep your calorie intake down.
Hummus is made with chickpeas. It’s a popular dip for vegetables, and you can make it at home. You can also roast chickpeas with multiple flavors to get the perfect snack. Of course, you can also add whole chickpeas to casseroles, soups, and other recipes.
For those who aren’t over-keen on the texture of chickpeas, try soaking them for a while. This just helps to soften them when eating raw.