If you've ever tried to lose weight, you know how difficult it is. From watching what you eat to working out, there's a lot to think about. As a result, it's helpful to know the nutritional value of the foods you enjoy and eat the most, as some of them might be fattening.
It's especially important when it comes to snacks. For example, is hummus fattening? Is it good for you?
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Is hummus fattening?
Hummus is rich in good fat due to its high sesame seed and olive oil content. In addition, it contains unsaturated fats, which are the healthy kind that helps you feel full after a meal, preventing overeating.
Furthermore, hummus is rich in nutrients and vitamins that promote maintaining a healthy weight.
To reap the most health benefits of hummus, it's best to make it yourself since store-bought hummus might contain a lot more fat than necessary.
How many calories does hummus have?
One tablespoon (15g) of hummus contains 27 calories. It's a relatively calorie-dense food, rich in all macronutrients.
Most of its calories come from healthy carbohydrates from chickpeas and other plant-based ingredients. It also contains a lot of good fats, contributing to heart health and low cholesterol levels.
Another wonderful health benefit of hummus is its high content of plant-based proteins. It makes this dip a good food choice for vegans and vegetarians, providing a lot of protein per calorie.
Is hummus healthy?
This Middle Eastern dip is very popular, and rightfully so. It provides a lot of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that are essential in a healthy, balanced diet.
For instance, it contains a good amount of manganese — a mineral that contributes to bone health, a reduced risk of certain diseases, and blood sugar regulation.
It's a trace mineral, and your body doesn't require it in large quantities, so you can get all the benefits from eating some hummus.
Hummus is also packed with magnesium. This mineral plays a crucial role in supporting muscle and nerve function as well as energy production.
In combination with other nutrients, it also strengthens your immune system and improves bone health.
Magnesium deficiency can lead to severe conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Hence, consuming hummus can help you avoid these health issues.
In addition, hummus is great for people with food intolerances. This is because it doesn't contain any gluten, nuts, or dairy, making it a great substitute for popular food products that contain these ingredients.
Nevertheless, it's important to remember that hummus is naturally free from these ingredients.
However, if you're consuming store-bought hummus, make sure to read the list of ingredients. This is because many brands might include preservatives and additives, including trace amounts of gluten or nuts.
What's more, hummus is rich in ingredients that help fight inflammation. Chronic or unaddressed inflammation can lead to stomach issues and weight imbalance.
As a result, consuming a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods is essential to prevent that from happening.
The sesame seeds and chickpeas in hummus contain such properties. They have also been proven to help prevent arthritis.
Furthermore, the fiber that hummus contains helps feed the healthy bacteria that live in your gut. These bacteria help fight inflammation in your stomach and promote healthy bowel movements.
Fiber also helps soak up excess stomach acid, making the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD more manageable.
In addition, consuming a diet high in fiber helps you feel full, helping you lose weight and keep it off.
Is hummus bad for weight loss?
Since hummus contains quite a lot of fat, it might seem strange that it'd be good for weight loss.
However, studies have shown that people who regularly consume chickpeas or hummus are 53% less likely to be obese and have a high BMI (body mass index).
As always, it's important not to overdo it and consume too much hummus, but it's very healthy food to include on a diet aimed at weight loss.
On top of that, hummus is a great source of soluble fiber, which helps in weight loss. This type of fiber helps reduce the levels of hunger hormones, thus helping you lose weight.
Fiber also curbs your appetite, so you're less likely to overeat and consume too many calories.
Additionally, it's effortless to add hummus to your diet. You can use it as a dip with carrots or cucumbers or spread it on whole-grain bread.
Moreover, hummus has a low glycemic index, which means that it helps control blood sugar levels. Foods with a high glycemic index are digested and absorbed quickly, causing blood sugar levels to spike.
Hence, it's best to consume foods like hummus, which have a low glycemic index.
That way, you can prevent many diseases, such as diabetes as well as rapid weight gain.
Is eating hummus every day fattening?
Foods containing a lot of fat and carbs are relatively filling. As a result, eating hummus every day shouldn't negatively impact your weight loss goals.
Nevertheless, it might be easy to overdo since most people eat hummus with crunchy veggies, such as carrots, celery, or cucumbers.
Hence, make sure to limit how much hummus you consume, especially if you eat it daily.
Hummus contains sesame oil, which contains a lot of fat. That's one of the culprits that can make you gain weight if you consume too much of it.
Even though these oils contain healthy, natural fats, you might want to make your own hummus, following one of the recipes that don't call for oil.
That way, you can limit the fat that you're intaking, lowering your daily calorie consumption.
Hummus contains a wide variety of minerals and vitamins that contribute to maintaining good health as well as a healthy weight. It's also a great food for people following a plant-based diet or a diet aimed at losing weight.
Consuming foods rich in healthy fats — like hummus — is a great idea to feel full and keep the extra pounds off. Such a diet also helps heart health, so you can feel good about eating hummus.