This blog is mainly to show the importance of plant based proteins and their many benefits to health. Many people believe that proteins are only present in animal products. The truth is that many plants have a good amount of proteins especially legumes.

Legumes are grown for their grain seed  or pulse for human consumption or as livestock feed. they are also soil -enriching green manure. Well known examples include beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, lupine beans and alfalfa. They are among the most nutritious food available, with many benefits, as well as being low in fat, contain no cholesterol, and high in fiber, proteins, and many nutrients like folate, potassium, iron and magnesium. Also high in antioxidants, they can help prevent cell damage and fight disease and aging.

Being rich in  fiber and other nutrients, legumes can benefit the digestive system, and may even help to prevent digestive cancers.

There are many ways to consume legumes. You can add them to any meal, for breakfast lunch or dinner. Many middle eastern dishes contain legumes especially soups and stews. The famous hummus is made of chickpeas, and the falafel contains chickpeas and beans. If it happened to be that you are not a big fan of these dishes, you can try to incorporate them in your diet using the following tips. 

Ways to add more legumes to your diet:

1. Add them to soups and stews and casseroles
2. Use pureed beans as a base for your dips and spreads (hummus)
3. Add chickpeas, lentils and red beans to your salads
4. Snack on a handful of soy nuts and edamame rather than chips and crackers

Legumes are very healthy with lots of benefits, yet they do provide calories. So always remember to consume them in moderation, especially if you do not want to gain weight!