“The Powerful Health Benefits of Fava Beans”

Fava Beans are a powerful medicine and food and will do the body good. Many times Fava Beans are not taken seriously, but they are full of nutrition and can be eaten raw or cooked, and can even change our mood, prevent Parkinson’s Disease, and prevent cancer.

Fava Beans grow in Asia, Africa, Europe, all over the Western Hemisphere and they are also known as Vicia Faba, Faba Beans, Tic Beans, Board Beans, Field Beans, and even Horse Beans. And fava beans go back 6,000 years as a cultivated crop. Fava beans help enrich the soil with nitrogen, prevent erosion, and were a important food source for the Greeks and Romans.

L-Dopa - Fava beans contain lots the chemical agent L-Dopa which helps in the creation of dopamine in the brain, plus epinephrine and nor-epinephrine which are important for stress and good mood. And L-Dopa helps to prevent Parkinson’s Disease… and a diet rich in fava beans might help to prevent Parkinson’s and also dystonia disorder which is also healed with L-Dopa.
Plant Sterols - Fava beans also contain lots of plant sterols and isoflavonoids that help to lower cholesterol and prevent cancer and especially breast cancer.

Young Pods are Edible - The young fava bean pods are edible raw, and steaming or boiling them makes them delicious.

B-Vitamins - Fava beans are full of lots of great B-Vitamins which are important for preventing birth defects, creating good mood, and for boosting up vitality.

Vitamins A, C, and K - Fava beans contain lots of Vitamins A and C which are powerful antioxidants that help to prevent cardiovascular disease, strokes, and cancer. And they also contain Vitamin K which help to prevent excessive clotting.

Probiotics - Fava beans contain lots of fiber that helps to create an environment for the proliferation of good bacteria in our gut— probiotic bacteria. We should have 4 to 5 pounds of good bacteria in our colon but most people only have about 1/2 pound of probiotic bacteria in their gut. And these good bacteria are important for good mood, boosting up our immune system, and preventing disease. And because fava beans contain lots of fiber they also lower cholesterol and help to prevent cardiovascular diseases… and fava beans are cholesterol free.

Also Contain - Fava beans also contain good carbs for energy, and lots of protein for building muscle, a small amount of good fats, lots of potassium for water regulation and for lowering blood pressure (In fact fava beans contains more potassium than lots of other foods), plus calcium and phosphorus for strong bones. Fava beans contain iron and copper for preventing anemia, selenium and zinc for boosting our immune system, and manganese and magnesium for enzyme production.

Weight Loss - In the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition as study was done using a plant based high fiber diet. The results were astounding, showing that the participants not only lost weight, but also lowered their cholesterol. So eating fava beans which are high in fiber and protein can be very important for weight loss.

Fava Bean Flour - Fava beans can also be ground into a wonderful high protein alternative to wheat flour.

Growing - Fava bean seeds can be planted in rich soil and full sun about 2 inches deep and about 12 inches apart with moderate amounts of water. The plants will grow to be 4 feet tall and will produce beans for about 2 1/2 months during the summer. The fresh beans can be used right away or dried for later use.

Ways to Cook Fava Beans - Fava beans can be made into hummus just like garbanzo beans. Taking the tender young pods and spraying them with a little oil and grilling them makes them very tasty, and sautéed with mushrooms fava beans are to die for. Split fava beans can be added to any soup or stew and are tender and ready to eat in no time at all. Blending cooked fava beans, lentils, and black beans, plus some cilantro, onions, and a little bit of olive oil makes a wonderful dip. Fava beans can be dipped in batter and fried for a wonderful treat.

Add cooked fava beans to any salad for more protein. And fava beans can be sautéed with Mexican or Greek spices and served over rice for a real treat. And in Egypt they even eat fava beans for breakfast, sautéed with cumin, parsley, onions, tomato, and served with pita bread. And googling “Fava Bean Recipes” will provide a very long list of wonderful fava bean recipes.

Finding - Fava beans can be bought dried on-line, and they are available at most supermarkets either dried or fresh.

Grow some fava beans and stay healthy, feel happy, and have dried beans for the winter.

Enjoy!

Dr. Paul Haider - Master Herbalist