Food & recipes

The Secret Superfood We Can’t Get Enough Of

7 reasons you need to add this delight to your diet

2016 has officially been dubbed the year of pulses by the UN, and chickpeas definitely contribute to this accolade. High in fibre, protein and manganese, they’re little bites of goodness. We’ve compiled seven reasons why we should be eating more chickpeas… we’ll race you to the wholefoods aisle.

1 Chickpeas contain phytoestrogens which are a weak plant-form of oestrogen. Evidence suggests this can help regulate the body’s production of the hormone which can help to lower the risk of breast cancer

2 Phytoestrogen has also been linked to minimising hot flushes in post-menopausal women

3 Just two to three tablespoons equates to one of your recommended five-a-day

4 Chickpeas are high in soluble fibre which can help lower cholesterol

5 A recent study showed that those who ate chickpeas felt fuller for longer and consumed less calories overall than those who didn’t eat any chickpeas

6 Chickpeas are a vegetarian-friendly source of protein, with just one cup containing 15g

7 A 1-cup serving of chickpeas contains 1.7 milligrams of manganese which is approximately 94 percent of the daily recommended intake for women, or 74 percent of the RDA for men