Is Hummus Good for You? What You Need to Know?

Hummus is one of the yummiest and most nutritious dips (Image via Pexels @Naim Benjelloun)
Hummus is one of the yummiest and most nutritious dips. (Image via Pexels/Naim Benjelloun)

Are you wondering "is hummus good for you"? Well, we are here to answer that question.

Hummus is one of those savory treats that never fails to please, whether you need lunch in a pinch or a snack to tide you over until dinner. The dip is as tasty, as it's easy to make: simply combine mashed chickpeas and tahini with other ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. So, is hummus good for you?

In this article, we will go over the benefits of having hummus - yes, there are many. By the end, we hope you will be able to answer the question 'is hummus good for you' yourself.


What is Hummus Made of?

Hummus comes from the Mediterranean diet, purportedly the healthiest diet in the world. (Image via Pexels/Taryn Elliott)
Hummus comes from the Mediterranean diet, purportedly the healthiest diet in the world. (Image via Pexels/Taryn Elliott)

This Middle Eastern favorite that has become very popular in the rest of the world is made of superbly healthy ingredients, all of which qualify as superfoods in their own right. Hummus is considered by many as a wholesome, clean and nutritious dish, and very rightly so.

Although many variations of hummus exist (that make it even healthier), the most basic hummus is made out of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), tahini (a paste of sesame seeds), garlic, olive oil and lemon juice.

You can add other ingredients to make it as flavorful or as healthy as you want. People generally add chillies, avocados or even beetroot to their hummus to make it a powerhouse of nutrition.


Is Hummus Good for You?

Hummus is made of healthy ingredients like chickpeas, tahini and olive oil. (Image via Pexels/Shameel Mukkath)
Hummus is made of healthy ingredients like chickpeas, tahini and olive oil. (Image via Pexels/Shameel Mukkath)

So, is hummus good for you? Yes! it is. Hummus is as healthy and nutritious as it sounds. There are many health benefits of having hummus regularly. Read on to learn more about it:

1) Nutrition in Hummus

Is hummus good for you? You tell us. A 100-gram or 3.5 ounce serving of hummus has the following nutrients:

  • Calories: 166
  • Carbs: 14.3 grams
  • Fat: 9.6 grams
  • Protein: 7.9 grams
  • Fiber: 6.0 grams
  • Copper: 26% of the RDI
  • Folate: 21% of the RDI
  • Manganese: 39% of the RDI
  • Iron: 14% of the RDI
  • Zinc: 12% of the RDI
  • Magnesium: 18% of the RDI
  • Thiamin: 12% of the RDI
  • Phosphorus: 18% of the RDI
  • Vitamin B6: 10% of the RDI
  • Potassium: 7% of the RDI

A great vegan option, hummus has 7.9 grams of protein per serving, making it a great choice for vegetarians and vegans. Adequate protein intake is critical for proper development, repair, and immune system function.

Iron, folate, phosphorus, and B vitamins are all present in hummus, which is great news for vegetarians and vegans who may not be getting enough of these nutrients elsewhere.

2) Great Option to Fight Inflammation

You can customize your hummus as you wish by adding different flavors i.e. avocado hummus.(Image via Pexels/Shameel Mukkath)
You can customize your hummus as you wish by adding different flavors i.e. avocado hummus.(Image via Pexels/Shameel Mukkath)

When the immune system detects a threat, such as an infection or injury, it triggers an inflammatory response. However, inflammation may occasionally linger for too long. Chronic inflammation is associated with a wide range of dangerous conditions.

The healthy ingredients in hummus may be useful in fighting off chronic inflammation. The olive oil that you use in your cooking is one. As a result of its high concentration of powerful antioxidants, it can reduce inflammation.

In particular, the antioxidant oleocanthal can be found in virgin olive oil, and it's thought to have anti-inflammatory properties similar to those of common anti-inflammatory medicines.

If you're still wondering 'is hummus good for you', consider this: tahini's main ingredient, sesame seeds, may help lower IL-6 and CRP levels, which tend to rise in inflammatory diseases like arthritis. In addition, a diet high in legumes like chickpeas has been shown to decrease inflammatory markers in the blood.

3) Low Glycemic Index - Excellent for Diabetics

Many people have found that incorporating hummus into their diet helps them maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Chickpeas, the main ingredient in hummus, have a low glycemic index (GI).

Healthy fats and soluble fiber are found in abundance in hummus. The carbohydrates in chickpeas are digested more slowly because of the protein, resistant starch, and antinutrients that are present in this bean.

The digestion of fats slows the digestion of carbohydrates, which in turn allows for a more gradual and consistent release of sugar into the bloodstream. So if you're wondering 'is hummus good for weight loss', yes it most certainly is.

4) Great for your Gut

Wondering is hummus good for you? Make it healthier by pairing it with crunchy vegetables. (Image via Pexels/Antoni Shkraba)
Wondering is hummus good for you? Make it healthier by pairing it with crunchy vegetables. (Image via Pexels/Antoni Shkraba)

Hummus is high in fiber. The high fibre content of hummus is beneficial to digestive health. It contains 24 percent of the daily fibre recommendation for women and 16 percent for men in just 100 grammes (3.5 ounces).

Hummus's high fibre content can aid in bowel movement regularity. Eating foods high in fibre makes bowel movements easier by making stools bulkier and softer. Additionally, dietary fibre aids in the maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome.

The bacteria in the digestive tract may convert some of the fiber in hummus into the short-chain fatty acid butyrate. Among the many benefits of this compound is its ability to nourish cells in the colon.

The production of butyrate has been linked to improved health and a reduced risk of colon cancer and other diseases in laboratory studies. We hope you're now convinced about the answer to the question 'is hummus good for you'.

Overall, hummus is a good balance of carbs, healthy fats and plant-based protein. It's an excellent snack or even part of a nourishing meal.

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