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In this article, we explore the benefits and potential side effects of eating chickpeas.

bowl of cooked chickpeas with a blue border

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In short, they’re a powerhouse of nutrients.

Then, check out15 Best High-Fiber Recipes for Weight Loss.

5 Benefits of Eating Chickpeas

They help with digestion.

Chickpeas in a bowl

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Fiber is an essential part of digestion,yet some people struggle to get enough of it every day.

Luckily, chickpeas soar in this category, particularly with a high dose ofsoluble fiber called raffinose.

This helps you digest your food more slowly since the good kind of bacteria breaks down the raffinose.

Chickpeas

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Also, according to onestudyabout chickpeas published inNutrients, bowel movements might be more comfortable and more frequent.

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They can keep you full.

Chickpeas can help lower cholesterol.

For optimum vitality and energy, it’s essential to manage your cholesterol.

Why is that?High cholesterolcan contribute to heart disease, obesity, strokes, and other serious illnesses.

Chickpeas are packed with fiber, and high-fiber foodscan help lower cholesterol levelsand help prevent cardiovascular disease.

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They may lower your cancer risk.

In fact, when we consume chickpeas, our bodies produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid.

One study published in theJournal of Cancershows this fatty acid can fight sick and/or dying cells.

Chickpeasare packed with fiber, magnesium, and calcium, like many other legumes.

A study from the journalBonefound that magnesium can help prevent bone loss.

The amazing news is that a cup of chickpeas can provide 18% of yourdaily value.

Since chickpeas are healthy, you might have as much as you’d like, right?

Well, this isn’t always the case.

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Botulism is a small possibility.

Botulism is common when someone cans food at home and the canning process isn’tdone properly.

This serious illness is rare and is resulting from bacteria that disrupt the nervous system.