You might have seen the chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) that are used to make the Middle Eastern dip known as hummus. But do you know that these little beans are actually very nutritious?

Chickpeas are rich in protein, fiber, folic acid and manganese.

They can help you in dealing with unhealthy cholesterol, as well as in improving your blood sugar levels.

More uniquely, a compound known as molybdenum which is found in chickpeas can help detoxify your body of sulfites, which are commonly used in preserving meats (eg. bacon, luncheon meats) and wine. So if you are feasting on lots of preserved meats this festive season, accompany them with lots of chickpeas to help rid your body of the unhealthy sulfites.

References
[1] Collins, Elise Marie. An A-Z Guide to Healing Foods: A Shopper’s Companion. San Francisco, California: Conari Press, 2009. Print.

Cindy L. TJOL is trained in Psychology, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has several years of experience writing on natural health on the internet. Follow her on her blog and read her other articles at Insights On Health.com.