Problems with high cholesterol?  Help might come from an unlikely source. It’s another surprise good-for-you and budget-friendly low glycemic food: garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas.

Many people around the world eat garbanzo beans as a staple part of their diet.  In the U.S. — not so much.  We mostly encounter them in hummus.  That’s too bad, because they can be a big help in our journey toward better health, beyond gorgeous.

Garbanzo beans have a low glycemic index number, mainly because of the protein and fiber they deliver.  That same fiber, along with good levels of folate and magnesium can help lower cholesterol.

They have carbs for energy and are filling — but don’t cause the blood sugar spike.  That’s a real advantage!

And then there is the iron advantage.  A single one-cup serving contains more than 25% of your daily recommended intake of iron. That same serving also contributes 85% of the RDI of Manganese, which is a trace mineral critical for enzyme functions like antioxidant defense and producing energy.

Garbanzos are also easy on the budget, too.  They are inexpensive, either canned or dried, and can be used in a variety of recipes.  Watch tomorrow for a tasty snack recipe.

Eating to live and living for Christ,

Susan Jordan Brown