You may wonder which foods should be stricken from your menu when you are trying to lose weight. While it is true that many foods high in unhealthy saturated fat should be avoided if possible, many foods contain essential vitamins, minerals and macronutrients that your body needs to function properly. When consumed in moderation, hummus -- a dip or spread made from ground chickpeas combined with certain spices -- could help give you many of those essential staples of a nutritious diet.
Necessary Fat
A common misconception is that a dieting person should avoid any food with a fat content. However, fats are necessary for the absorption of vitamins and minerals from food. Eat foods that contain healthy fats or fats that do not come from potentially harmful saturated fats. Striving to achieve a healthy weight should include trying to consume calories from a variety of food sources, such as lean meats and protein-rich beans, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and some fats.
Hummus Benefits
Hummus is a food high in both fiber and protein. Protein is necessary for building and maintaining muscle. Muscle, or lean body mass, needs more calories to maintain, so a muscular person can consume more calories without gaining body fat.
Fiber is also an essential nutrient that provides health benefits. Fiber may help to lower levels of the LDL cholesterol that might lead to atherosclerosis and heart attacks. Fiber also helps you maintain a normal level of blood sugar.
Hummus Nutrition
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1 tbsp. of commercial hummus contains 25 calories, 1.19 g of protein, 1. 44 g of fat, 2.14 g of carbohydrate and 0.9 g of fiber. The same serving of hummus also provides 6 mg of calcium, 34 mg of potassium, 11 mg of magnesium, 12 mcg of folate and 4 IU of vitamin A.
Moderation
While you don't want to consume too much hummus, it is fine to have a serving as a dip for your vegetables or as a spread on a sandwich. While hummus has many highly nutritious qualities, it can be relatively high in calories when over-consumed.
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