In recent years, garbanzo beans have become crazy popular; you can find them gracing the supermarket aisles in the form of chickpea pasta, chickpea flour, chickpea chips, and even chickpea pizza crust. But with all this hype, it s easy to wonder if the health benefits of garbanzo beans are truly
that great. Ahead, a deep dive into chickpea nutrition, plus dietitian-approved ways for eating them. Chickpeas 101
As part of the legume family, chickpeas are related to kidney, lima, and black beans as well as peanuts (which, BTW, is why those with peanut or nut allergies might want to steer clear). Native to the Mediterranean, these roundish beans are grown in more than 50 counties today, according to Montana State University. And while the terms garbanzo beans and chickpeas are used interchangeably, garbanzo aka Kabuli chickpeas, which are roundish, cream-beige beans are actually one of the two main varieties of chickpea. The other main type is the desi chi