A recent study by researchers at the University of Minnesota and Nutrition Research & Regulatory Affairs highlights that eating beans and chickpeas, whether canned or dried, enhances intake of crucial nutrients like fiber, potassium, magnesium, and choline, supporting both overall health and digestive wellness. Using NHANES data from 2001-2018, the study modeled the inclusion of one to two daily servings of these pulses and found marked improvements in diet quality and gut health. Published in Maturitas, the findings showed that adding beans or chickpeas could raise diet quality scores by up to 20%, according to the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Higher HEI scores are linked to a decreased risk of digestive issues and chronic diseases. Pulses are rich in dietary fiber, which is essential for gut health yet under-consumed by most Americans. The fiber content helps promote a healthy microbiome, aids digestion, and reduces inflammation, providing protective benefits for the gastrointestinal system and beyond.
Source: https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-024-00937-1
