Fava beans are a type of legume, similar in appearance to green peas, but much larger and flatter. Fava beans are called by many different names in different parts of the world, including broad beans, Windsor beans, pigeon beans, horse beans or English beans. As fava beans age, they become tough and difficult to eat, so it is best to eat them when they are young. Fava beans are generally safe for consumption. In rare cases, however, people with specific conditions may experience adverse reactions from eating fava beans.
Allergic Reaction
Certain individuals may be allergic to uncooked fava beans. If you are allergic to fava beans, after eating raw fava beans, you may develop mild to severe discomfort, reports Michigan State University. In rare cases, people with a severe allergic reaction to fava beans may slip into a coma. In most cases, cooking fava beans prevents any allergic reactions.
Hemolytic Anemia
People with a rare genetic condition called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency may experience ill health effects after eating fava beans. If you have this condition, eating fava beans may induce hemolytic anemia, a steep reduction in iron in the bloodstream due to bursting red blood cells. When hemolytic anemia is induced by eating fava beans, the condition is called favism, the Genetics Home Reference explains.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
If you have irritable bowel syndrome, you may wish to avoid fava beans. Similar to many other fruits and vegetables, fava beans contain complex carbohydrates that can be difficult to digest and may worsen symptoms of IBS, reports the Baylor College of Medicine. If you are following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to control your IBS, you should definitely avoid fava beans, because the complex carbohydrates in fava beans are not recommended for this diet.
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