Both chickpeas and sesame seeds are superfoods in their own right. Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are rich in protein, potassium, and dietary fiber. These nutrients help them provide certain health benefits, such as being able to reduce inflammation. On the other hand, the sesame seeds present in tahini are packed with essential amino acids and healthy fats which help regulate blood pressure and cholesterol. These benefits contribute to hummus’ reputation as a clean and healthy food, as previously noted. Here Skye Anderson, Food.news, reflects on eating pulses if you are diabetic and worried about heart disease:

“Scientists have long established the connection between heart disease and diabetes. Studies have shown that people with diabetes have a higher chance of developing heart disease because of high blood sugar levels.

Having persistently high blood sugar eventually damages the nerves and blood vessels, both of which are connected to the heart. Injured blood vessels can lead to hypertension, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

According to studies, hypertension and insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes, are positively associated. If you suffer from a combination of diabetes and hypertension, your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases will surely double.

But not all hope is lost, say researchers. Specifically, researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada reported a natural remedy that can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease even if you’re diabetic. And believe it or not, this remedy involves eating a group of humble seeds that belong to the legume family: pulses.

What are pulses?

The term “pulses” refers to the seeds of legume plants (e.g., adzuki beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils) that are used as dry grains. These seeds grow in pods and come in different shapes, sizes and colors. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), there are 11 different types of pulses:

• Dry beans
• Dry broad beans
• Dry peas
• Chickpeas
• Cowpeas
• Pigeon peas
• Lentils
• Bambara beans
• Vetches
• Lupins
• Pulses NES (short for “Not Elsewhere Specified” – minor pulses that don’t fall into the other categories)

Today, hundreds of varieties of pulses are grown around the world. These annual crops can be farmed sustainably and are environmentally friendly. As foods, pulses are rich in essential nutrients and are easy to cook with.

Pulses and nutritional facts

Pulses have a lot going for them. Besides being low-fat sources of protein and dietary fiber, pulses also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals. Here’s a list of essential nutrients you can get from pulses:

• Folate
• Iron
• Calcium
• Potassium
• Zinc
• Iron
• Magnesium

Pulses contain some of the highest levels of protein you can find in plant-based sources. In fact, beans, chickpeas, lentils and peas contain two to three times the amount of protein found in cereal grains, such as barley, corn, oats, quinoa, rice and wheat.

Pulses are also great sources of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber and resistant starch. Soluble fiber can help you lose weight, as well as lower you blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Insoluble fiber can support healthy digestion and bowel regularity. Resistant starch, meanwhile, resists digestion in the small intestine and serves as food for good bacteria in the colon.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://www.food.news/2020-08-05-what-diabetics-should-eat-to-prevent-heart-disease.html