Where Have You Bean?

4 min read.

Firstly, happy world hummus day for May the 13th!

This day started back in 2012 and is a way for millions of people around the world to unite in celebrating their love for hummus, and it is just another reason to consume, share, celebrate and profess your love for this special food…

Hummus is an ancient food that has its origins in Eastern Mediterranean and Egyptian cultures, as far back as the 12th century. The simplicity of the dish is likely why it has stood the test of time and why so many people can enjoy it today.

In its prime format, hummus is cooked and mashed chickpeas (or other beans), blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and garlic.

I personally have a tub of hummus on hand in my fridge at all times. I don’t always have the time to make it myself, but it is very easy, quick, and cheap to make, check out my video here.

The benefits of hummus go beyond the taste in your Menopause journey, there are some key attributes that not only make it a much-underestimated superfood, but that could really help you with your menopause symptoms.

First off Chickpeas (mung beans, alfalfa, and lentils) are rich in Phytoestrogens, known as Isoflavones or plant estrogens, that mimic the effects of estrogen in our body. The effect of phytoestrogens on menopausal hot flashes varies between individuals, because not all of us have the gut bacteria necessary to convert them; however based on studies of women in Japan, if you are living with hot flashes, it’s certainly worth including phytoestrogens in your diet.

While we are on the hot flashes, in the Ayurvedic practice it is believed that Chickpeas, are a cooling food, as well as an anti-inflammatory. This is also true for sesame seeds, and olive oil, two other ingredients in Hummus.

Hummus is filled with fibre! Which we need more of as we age, in particular as we navigate Menopause. Fibre helps with metabolism, gut health, and weight control and we should be having around 25g a day. The fiber in hummus helps keep our bowels healthy and adds bulk to any meal or snack, helping you feel fuller for longer. Fibre is associated with a reduction colon cancer and reducing blood glucose levels and therefore reducing the number of sugars absorbed into the bloodstream.

Chickpeas due to their being 77% complex carbohydrates, which are the kind that have a slow and steady energy, rather than a quick fix are said to help reduce the absorption of LDL cholesterol (the bad one) and are also known to lower rates of type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this is also true for mono-unsaturated fats, like olive oil. 

Chickpeas are high in protein, so are good for weight control. Chickpeas, and beans in general, are made up of approx. 21% percent protein, so you feel fuller for longer, and therefore you will be inclined to eat less. Hummus is a fabulous healthy snack alternative, especially when combined with raw veggies, like carrot, celery, capsicum, or cucumber.  

While I have focused on the star ingredient, being chickpeas, hummus also has garlic, which is known for its immune boosting, its benefits in improving cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of heart disease, improving bone density and there are studies underway on the ability of garlic to protect against oxidative damage in the brain, which is the cause of dementia.

Of course, there is the zesty lemon in this humble dish too, and lemon is a great source of Vitamin C, which is required for collagen formation, that we lose as we age. Sesame is equally high in collagen, FYI. Lemon promotes healthy skin and supports the immune system.

Finally, hummus and chickpeas are full of essential vitamins and minerals, most importantly for our menopausal transition, magnesium, the most abundant mineral in the body and which is required for all organs in the body to function properly, yet is one that we are commonly deficient in. Chickpeas are full of vitamin B6, and just one cup provides 65% of your recommended daily intake. They are a high source of zinc, and calcium as well.

In summary, the humble Hummus is an all-around superfood. It has phytoestrogens, is plant-based, is healthy and a nutritious option to eat every day, providing protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, so I highly recommend adding it to your routine, if you are not already!

Please take the time to navigate the journals, where the professionals I have connected with on my journey share their insights and where I share more deeply my Peri-Menopause journey with you and the solutions around Movement, Mindset and Modify.

Remember to connect for a Shout! We can Shout! Shout! Let it all out! Any way you want! We can coordinate a meeting that works for you, your schedule and situation, right here.

Sending Positive Vibrations, M. x

#Menopause #Perimenopause #Womensupportingwomen #Positivevibes #Movement #Mindset #Modify #Menoconcierge #Mimimoonmeno #MEG #GENX #hummusday # Phytoestrogens #Fibre #Protien #Vitimins #Minerals.

Related Post

Scroll to Top