Light and fresh, this lemon ginger hummus is quick to whip up and packs some delicious flavors! It pairs perfectly with some fresh veggies for easy, healthy snacking!

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I’ve been all about fresh, bright flavors lately and this Lemon Ginger Hummus totally fits the bill. It’s light and delicate and I can’t get enough! I’m sharing the recipe at the end of this post, but I also wanted to address a common concern I hear about beans:

Are beans really good for me?

There’s a lot of confusion about whether or not beans are actually “healthy”. Proponents of plant-based diets extol the virtues of beans (and all legumes). Those who follow a paleo diet or Whole30 program are quick to ban beans (and all legumes, including peanuts), citing a myriad of reasons, often revolving around their “anti-nutrients” that make them not beneficial to one’s health.

Before I dig in a little deeper, I just want to reiterate that there is no one perfect solution when it comes to nutrition. Nutrition has to be individualized to what’s a fit for you. That said, let’s check out what’s up with beans.

Plentiful in Plant-Based Protein

Beans are really unique in that they are a good source of plant-based protein. For example, one cup of cooked garbanzo beans contains 14.5 grams protein (1). Now, if you’re comparing a half cup of cooked beans to a half cup of cooked animal protein, the animal protein will have more grams of protein. But this doesn’t negate the fact that beans are still a good source of protein.

Concerned that beans don’t contain all nine essential amino acids that the body can’t produce on its own? Don’t be. Your body just needs to have these essential amino acids throughout the day – one single food doesn’t have to contain all of them at once.

Full of Fiber

That same one cup of cooked garbanzo beans also packs 12.5 grams of fiber. Daily fiber goals for age-sex groups based on dietary reference intakes and dietary guidelines recommendations can be seen here, but a woman in her twenties through her fifties needs 25-28 grams of fiber daily. 12.5 grams is a significant portion of that!

This healthy fiber includes resistant starch and soluble fibers, both of which pass unchanged through the stomach and small intestine until they get to the colon where they feed the good bacteria there. There may be side effects of bloating and gas, but other health benefits include improving colon health and reducing the risk of colon cancer (2).

Even on a low FODMAP diet someone may be following for medical reasons (like irritable bowel syndrome) shows that it may be possible to consume legumes on a low FODMAP diet (3). You just want to watch the portion size and adhere to proper preparation techniques to reduce phytic acid and lectin content (see below).

Affordable + Accessible

Globally, legumes are very inexpensive and readily available, which makes them a dietary staple in many countries. They can be a fantastic option if you have limited funds and need to purchase foods that are nutrient-dense. They’re also pretty versatile, and can be stretched out in many ways over multiple meals.

Is Phytic Acid Really a Problem?

A popular argument against beans is their phytic acid (or phytates) content. Phytic acid impairs the absorption of minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium. It also may lead to a higher risk of mineral deficiencies over time (4).

Sounds scary and like we all need to purge our pantries of legumes ASAP, right? Well…not so fast.

This concern over mineral deficiencies from high phytic acid intake is really only a concern if very minimal meat is consumed and the majority of one’s diet is made up of foods high in phytic acid (like legumes and whole grains). There are still other many factors impacting mineral absorption:

Dietary variety (are you just eating beans and grains all day long?)
Foods consumed with high phytate foods (i.e. foods high in vitamin C help increase the absorption of iron from the high phytic acid food, despite the presence of phytates)
Gastrointestinal adaptation (research suggests that people who consume larger amounts of high phytic acid foods may have a GI tract that adapts. Their GI tract may have higher concentrations of intestinal phytase, which helps break down phytic acid and means better mineral absorption.)

Still on the fence? Also know that impaired mineral absorption from high phytic-acid foods only pertains to the single meal that you’re eating. It doesn’t apply to foods consumed later in the day (meaning if you snack on yogurt later, you’ll still absorb maximum calcium) (5).

Also? We need to stop demonizing legumes for phytic acid. Phytic acid is also found in plant seeds, nuts, and even in smaller quantities in roots and tubers (6).

One last thing: there are actually health benefits to phytic acid. Phytic acid is a natural plant antioxidant (7). It’s actually added to other foods as a natural antioxidant to help prevent spoilage! Research is suggesting it may also decrease the risk of colon cancer and protect against other inflammatory bowel diseases.

Did You Know You Can Reduce Phytic Acid Content?

Now, while mineral absorption can be very individualized, the potential for impaired mineral absorption from diets high in high phytic acid foods is something to still be aware of. This may especially affect individuals in developing countries or even vegetarians (8, 9).

There is research that suggests several preparation methods that can help reduce phytic acid content in foods like whole grains and legumes. That includes soaking (10), sprouting (11), and fermentation (12).

What’s the Deal with Lectins?

Lectins are a type of protein that can bind to sugar. They’re found in all forms of life, including plants and the foods you eat (13). The most common food sources of lectins include legumes, grains, and nightshade vegetables (like tomatoes).

Humans can’t digest lectins, so they travel through the gut unchanged. In small amounts they can help with immune function, cell growth, and possibly even play a role in cancer therapy (14).

In larger amounts there’s a potential for impaired nutrient absorption. When consumed in large amounts, there’s a possibility for damaging the gut wall, which can result in irritation and symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

Like with phytic acid, you can soak (15), sprout (16), ferment (17), and cook properly to reduce lectin content (i.e. don’t eat raw beans, man!)

The Bottom Line on Beans

The bottom line is that beans have many health-enhancing properties. There are potential nutritional concerns some individuals may need to be sensitive to, but there are often ways to still include beans and other legumes in your diet. As with every single food and anything related to nutrition, it is completely up to you to see what works for your body.

If you’re like me and enjoy beans and other legumes, give this Lemon Ginger Hummus a try and see how you like it!

How to Make Lemon Ginger Hummus

To make this hummus, you just need a food processor (or even a mini chopper, just need to have room for a can of beans!). Add chickpeas, vegetable stock (low sodium!), lemon, olive oil, ginger, tahini, and salt to taste (optional), give it a whirl, and it’s done!

Why vegetable stock? It’s a way of adding flavor and more liquid without having to use quite as much oil as in other hummus recipes, keeping this hummus a little lighter for snacking.

Want more healthy snack recipes?

Try some of my favorite healthy snack recipes:

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