Table of contents:
- Benefits of fava beans for health
- 1. Potential to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease
- 2. Fava beans are a good source of protein
- 3. Contains minerals that are good for body growth
- 4. Assist in fetal development
Fava beans or also known by the name board beans is a type of bean that belongs to legumes. The fava bean grows in a shell like a clam and is covered in a coating that is also edible.
Having a slightly sweet taste and soft texture, fava beans contain a lot of nutrients and vitamins that you shouldn't miss.
Benefits of fava beans for health
Like other beans, fava beans have a high protein content. For those of you who don't consume meat, these nuts can be a food choice to meet your protein needs one day.
Fava beans also have various other ingredients that can provide benefits to your body. Here are a few of them.
1. Potential to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease
According to several studies, fava beans are rich in ingredients levo-dihydroxy phenylalanine or L-dopa, a component which when digested by the body turns into a chemical in the brain called dopamine. The hormone dopamine is closely related to Parkinson's disease.
Please note, Parkinson's disease is a condition in which nerve cells in the brain are damaged and cannot produce enough dopamine.
The hormone dopamine plays a role in a person's ability to move his body. It is dopamine deficiency that will cause a person to lose control of their body movements.
Therefore, dopamine intake is needed by patients with Parkinson's disease. One way to do this is by eating foods that can trigger dopamine production, such as fava beans.
2. Fava beans are a good source of protein
As previously mentioned, fava beans can also be a good source of protein. Fava beans contain about 30 grams of protein in a serving per 100 grams.
Most of the cells in the body are made up of protein, both in muscles, bones, skin and hair. Protein supports the production of hemoglobin as an oxygen carrier in your blood. That's why protein is needed so that the body's cells can continue to work properly.
For those of you who are on a weight loss program, choosing fava beans as your diet may be very helpful. The protein contained in it will make you feel full longer so that your appetite can be more controlled.
3. Contains minerals that are good for body growth
Various minerals contained in fava beans also provide benefits for bone growth. A serving of 100 grams of fava beans contains about 521 mg of phosphorus and about 0.82 mg of copper.
These two components are very useful for bone health. Copper is a component that plays an important role in collagen production.
The presence of collagen is needed in unifying human body tissues with one another, including the connection of ligaments and muscle tissue to bones.
While phosphorus is widely known as a mineral that plays a role in bone growth. About 85% of the mineral phosphorus present in the body is in the bones as calcium phosphate.
By fulfilling the need for phosphorus, you will keep yourself away from the risk of several diseases such as osteoporosis and rickets (weak bones).
Most of the phosphorus can be obtained by drinking milk, but if you are not consuming dairy products you can choose plant-based products such as fava beans as another option.
4. Assist in fetal development
In a 150 gram serving of fava beans, there are 170 micrograms of vitamin B9 or folate. Folate is a component that is needed in the formation of DNA or other growth related to genetics.
Of these properties, pregnant women are strongly advised to always meet the nutritional needs of this one. Folate will play an important role in supporting the growth of the fetus in the womb.
Folate deficiency can increase the risk of birth defects such as neural tube defect (NTD) in which the baby's neural tube closure is imperfect or spina bifida, in which the baby's spinal cord nervous system does not form properly.
Consumption of folate sources will prevent the mother from these risks. One of them, of course, can be done by eating fava beans.
Despite the limited research on their impact on the body, fava beans can still be a healthy choice for those of you who want more variety on your diet. However, of course the consumption of these foods is not recommended for those of you who have allergies.
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