۹ Impressive Health Benefits of Fava Beans

Fava beans are chock-full of nutrients and offer many health benefits. They contain fiber, folate, and manganese, among many other nutrients. Fava beans may also help decrease body weight or lower cholesterol.

Fava beans are chock-full of nutrients and offer many health benefits. They contain fiber, folate, and manganese, among many other nutrients. Fava beans may also help decrease body weight or lower cholesterol.
Fava beans are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein. They’re thought to offer impressive health effects, such as improved motor function and immunity.
Here are 9 health benefits of fava beans, backed by science.

۱. Loaded With Nutrients

For their relatively small size, fava beans pack an incredible amount of nutrients.
In particular, they’re rich in plant protein, folate and several other vitamins and minerals. They’re also loaded with soluble fiber that can aid digestion and lower cholesterol levels (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

One cup (170 grams) of cooked fava beans has (3):

• Calories: 187 calories
• Carbs: 33 grams
• Fat: Less than 1 gram
• Protein: 13 grams
• Fiber: 9 grams
• Folate: 40% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Manganese: 36% of the DV
• Copper: 22% of the DV
• Phosphorous: 21% of the DV
• Magnesium: 18% of the DV
• Iron: 14% of the DV
• Potassium: 13% of the DV
• Thiamine (vitamin B1) and Zinc: 11% of the DV
In addition, fava beans provide smaller amounts of almost all other B vitamins, calcium and selenium.

۲. May Help With Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms

Fava beans are rich in L-dopa, which your body converts to dopamine. Since Parkinson’s disease is characterized by low dopamine levels, eating fava beans may help with symptoms. Still, more research on this topic is needed.

۳. May Help Prevent Birth Defects

Fava beans are loaded with folate, a nutrient that promotes healthy fetal development.
Folate is critical for creating cells and organs. An expecting mother needs additional folate from foods and supplements to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, or issues with the development of her infant’s brain and spinal cord (8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

۴. Contain Immune-Boosting Nutrients

Fava beans contain compounds that have been shown to boost antioxidant activity of human cells in test-tube studies. Since antioxidants enhance immune function, eating fava beans may boost immunity, but more research is needed.

۵. Beneficial for Bone Health

Research in both animals and humans suggests that adequate levels of manganese and copper — two nutrients that are abundant in fava beans — may promote bone strength.

۶. May Improve Symptoms of Anemia

Regular consumption of fava beans may help increase blood iron levels and improve symptoms of anemia that results from inadequate iron intake.

۷. May Improve High Blood Pressure

Fava beans are loaded with magnesium and potassium that may help relax blood vessels and decrease high blood pressure.

۸. May Aid Weight Loss

Eatings foods that are rich in protein and fiber — such as fava beans — may help you lose weight and consume fewer calories overall.

۹. May Help Lower Cholesterol

Fava beans are high in soluble fiber that can bind to and remove cholesterol from your body. This type of fiber has also been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels.

The Bottom Line

Fava beans are loaded with nutrients and may offer impressive health benefits.
Eating these beans regularly may have benefits for symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, help prevent birth defects, boost immunity, aid weight loss and lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
However, research is limited and more studies on the effects of fava beans on human health are needed.