Count Your Weight Down with Chick Peas

Garbanzo beans, otherwise known as chick peas are edible legumes that are a fantastic addition to your weight loss plan. In fact there are many lovers of chick peas because they are low in fat, high in protein, and filled with fiber.  And because of this, chick peas are the dieter's ideal food.

Fit Fem Fun Facts. To give you some history, chick peas are among the cultivated vegetables in the earliest times of vegetable cultivation. The plant grows to heights of 20 centimeters and the highest recorded is 50 centimeters. The stem in either of the sides have feathers-like leaves which are small. The desi and the kabuli are main types of the plant. The countries with largest production of chick peas are India, the largest; Pakistan and Turkey. Just some fun facts….in case you go on Jeaopardy and Alex Trebec asks you the origins of chick peas. I dunno…I'm just sayin'.

Let's get cultured! Chick peas can be made as a kind of tofu; this tofu variation is common food with people from Myanmar.  It can be part of an Italian past cuisine. You can even include with some marinated vegetables. And are common among the parts of dishes of the antipasto class. Chick peas can also be included in the three-bean salad (the other two beans are green beans and kidney beans). Garbanzo beans can be used in salads.  The famous dish of Middle Eastern origin, hummus, is made up of rounded garbanzos, as well. Falafel is also made up of chicl peas. Some of you may or may not know, but my family is Egyptian, and so falafel is a staple food particularly when my family fasts during Christian holidays (Coptic). Can't get enough falafels. Yummm…but I do not condone this food as part of your weight loss plan since it's a fried food.

Can you say weight loss? Regardless of whether you are dieting newbie or a long time member of the calorie counting club, you still need to understand the principles of weight loss. It's pretty basic, you need to produce calorie deficiency…that means, you must burn off more calories than you consume. To lose 1 lb of fat, you have to burn 3500 calories. And we know that by eating quality foods with lesser calorie content and exercising more, you can achieve the calorie deficit. Chick peas is by far one of the most healthful low cal foods that can help you achieve you Fit Fem weight loss goals. 

Did you know that chick peas are basically sugar free and only ½ cup is about 135 calories. Yes, really, you'll feel full after only ½ cup. And check out these other healthful benefits. Chick peas are a great source of protein, folate and zinc, too. These peas are great source of manganese which helps to boost the level of energy of the body. Chick peas are a  low glycemic food (index ranking 33); they are the supply provider of slow-releasing carbohydrates, which are good particularly for people who have diabetes. The carbohydrates from the peas have stabilizing effect on blood sugar, not to mention low calories content. This helps your body from storing carbs as fat. Additionally, the rich fiber content regulates your poop (yes I said it…) as well as curbs your appetite. There is about 12.5 grams of fiber in 1 cup of chick peas and because it is soluble fiber, it helps the slower release of sugar into your blood stream, making you crave less sugar. Alleluia!!!

So, who's ready to include chick peas as part of their weight loss, clean eating diet? If you love your body and want to nourish it with only quality food, include your chick peas!