What Is Hummus? 8 Reasons to Eat It Every Day!

November 30, 2017

What is hummus? It is a creamy, thick spread made primarily from mashed chickpeas and a few other healthy ingredients that has become popular worldwide over the past couple of decades. It has long been enjoyed in Middle Eastern and North African countries and today in commonly eaten across North America and Europe, too.

In fact, hummus is one of the most widely consumed Middle Eastern foods in the U.S. today. In 2008, over 15 million Americans reported that they eat hummus on a frequent basis. That’s a lot of people getting to experience all of the health benefits of hummus.

If you’re new to hummus and still wondering, “what is hummus exactly?” — then read on to find out what it’s all about why you should ideally be eating it every day.

What Is Hummus?

Hummus has a rich tradition — some even refer to it as an “ancient” food that has a history of being consumed by important historical figures in the Middle East.

According to ancient scriptures, hummus — at least as we know it today — was first consumed in Egypt around the 13^th century, although the recipe used at this time differed from today’s because it omitted tahini and used other nuts instead.

Today, hummus still plays a major part in the diet of many healthy populations living around the world, mainly in the Middle East. Hummus is commonly consumed with every meal in Israel, frequently included in all “mezzeh tables” in Syria and Turkey, eaten most days for breakfast along with bread in Palestine and Jordan, and is still enjoyed in Egypt and many Arabic nations in a variety of meals, too.

What Is Hummus Good For? 8 Benefits

Mediterranean and Middle Eastern populations have been consuming good-quality olive oil and tahini for thousands of years. This type of diet that is still eaten in these regions today (which also frequently includes other hummus ingredients like beans, lemon and garlic) has been shown to be very anti-inflammatory, and we know that inflammation is the root cause of many chronic disease.

Eating a diet similar to these healthy populations can help lower cholesterol and triglycerides levels, reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and lessen the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

So is hummus healthy? If you make homemade hummus with real ingredients or buy a quality store-bought hummus then yes. Basic hummus recipes contain six healthy ingredients: chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, sea salt and tahini.

Flavored types of hummus — for example, popular types like roasted red pepper or Kalamata olive hummus, which you may have seen in supermarkets — have additional ingredients that are mixed into the basic hummus recipe described above.

This is good news because it keeps the tastes of hummus interesting and offers a wide variety of options.

So what is hummus good for? Here are the top eight hummus benefits:

Good Source of Plant-Based Protein
Fights Illness and Disease
Decreases Inflammation
Helps Digestion and Intestinal Health
High in Vitamins and Minerals
Supports Bone Health
Protects Heart Health
Boosts Your Energy

1. Good Source of Plant-Based Protein

What is hummus good for? To start, hummus is an excellent protein source for vegetarians, vegans and omnivores too. Chickpeas, which are the base of nearly all hummus recipes, are high in protein, which can help to make you feel full after consuming them. The feeling of satiety therefore makes you less likely to snack (especially on junk food) between meals.

Because hummus is often eaten with pita bread or another type of whole grain, the chickpeas and grains together make up a “complete protein,” meaning they contain all essential amino acids that are necessary for the body to acquire from food and to then use for energy.

Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, is also a great source of important amino acids (specifically one called methionine), which allows tahini to create another complete protein when combined with chickpeas, similarly to chickpeas and grains do.

2. Fights Illness and Disease

Beans, and chickpeas in particular, have been shown to help balance cholesterol levels, reduce hypertension and protect against heart disease. (1) In fact, hummus is commonly eaten in many Mediterranean nations that experience great health, low rates of cardiovascular disease and longevity, with Greece and Turkey two of them.

This may be due to the high fiber content in chickpeas, which helps people avoid overeating and gaining harmful excess weight, especially around the organs. Beans also help keep the arteries clear from plaque buildup, decreasing the chances of cardiac arrest and stroke. In fact, studies show that having just one daily serving (about 3/4 cup cooked) of beans of any kind can help to decrease chances of a heart attack and help balance “bad” LDL cholesterol.

Chickpeas have also been shown to have protective properties against cancer, in particular colon cancer. This is due to chickpeas’ ability to keep the digestive system, including the colon, free from harmful bacteria and toxic buildup, since the beans’ fiber helps to keep waste moving out of the body quickly.

Additionally, a diet rich in all beans has been shown to reduce hyperglycemia and help balance blood sugar levels. This decreases the chance of developing diabetes or insulin resistance. In fact, populations who traditionally ate beans often but then switched to diets that contained less beans suffered from much higher rates of disease. Once reintroducing beans back into the diet, these populations experienced significantly less issues balancing blood sugar.

3. Decreases Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s natural defense to move toxins out of the body. However, when your body has a high level of inflammation, it indicates that your body has been trying to overcome food, environmental or medicinal toxins. Foods that help reduce inflammation also help in reducing the chance of arthritis and disease, and they help heal the body.

Hummus has garlic, olive oil and chickpeas, which are all known anti-inflammatory foods. In a Korean study, extracts from garlic were shown to reduce inflammation and help fight wrinkles and aging. While for centuries garlic has been used to boost the immune system and cure diseases, more studies are being conducted to understand how and what about garlic makes it so effective. (2 , 3)

As research published in the British Journal of Nutrition olive oil has been found to reduce inflammation in the body and can also help with healthy cholesterol levels. (4)

Chickpeas have been found not only to reduce inflammation, but also to reduce blood clots. Research out of the University of Karachi in Pakistan done on two different varieties of chickpeas showed both were effective at reducing inflammation markers. (5)

4. Helps Digestion and Intestinal Health

Chickpeas are an excellent source of fiber, which has multiple health benefits, including helping to foster a healthy digestive system, making us feel full and satisfied, improving cardiovascular health, and more.

Consuming enough fiber daily (between 25–35 grams depending on your gender and needs) is correlated with a healthy body weight and deceased chance of obesity-related diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and many more. Hummus makes an excellent addition to any high-fiber diet.

5. High in Vitamins and Minerals

It is hard to beat the winning combination of essential micronutrients that the ingredients in hummus has to offer. In addition to protein and fiber, the chickpeas used in hummus are high in iron, folate, phosphorus and B vitamins (all especially important for vegetarians and vegans who may be lacking in these nutrients).

Lemon juice also contains a high level of immunity-boosting vitamin C and antioxidants. Tahini has high levels of copper, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus and calcium too. And of course there is garlic too, which contains many trace minerals, antioxidants and vitamins (manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C and selenium, to name a few) and has been shown to benefit the heart and to boost immunity too.

6. Supports Bone Health

Sesame seeds, used in making tahini, are an excellent source of various important bone-building minerals, including zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and selenium. Bone loss is often a concern for people as they age, including women who go through menopause and experience hormonal shifts that can result in bone weakening and even osteoporosis for some.

The trace mineral copper, which tahini is an excellent source of, helps keep the skeletal structure strong by facilitating the binding of collagen to elastin, which is one important building block of bones. At the same time, calcium may be able to help lower levels of bone loss, especially as someone ages. Zinc has been shown to be an important factor in bone development and growth and a protector of bone health.

Studies have shown that zinc deficiencies are closely tied to stunted bone growth and that zinc can contribute to bone formation and healthy mineralization in both younger people and older populations that are more at risk. (6)

7. Protects Heart Health

Studies suggest that diets rich in extra virgin olive oil, one of the main ingredients used in hummus, help prevent cardiovascular disease in several important ways. Regularly consuming good-quality olive oil has been correlated with improving blood pressure levels, glucose metabolism and reducing harmful cholesterol. (7, 8)

Both olive oil and sesame seeds have also been shown to help reduce inflammation and provide important antioxidants, both of which play a part in maintaining heart health by keeping the structure of arteries and cell walls healthy. Finally, diets rich in beans have been shown to help protect heart health partially due to their low score on the glycemic index. (9)

8. Boosts Your Energy

Chickpeas, like all beans and legumes, contain starch, which is a complex carbohydrate that the body is able to use steadily for energy. Starches contain natural sugars called glucose, which the body uses easily for many essential functions. Unlike simple sugars found in many products like refined flour, white bread, pasta, soda, candy and most other processed foods, starches take an extended period of time to break down once consumed.

This means they provide “time released” energy and do not spike your blood sugar in the same way that simple carbohydrates found in processed foods do. The process of digesting and utilizing the glucose found in all beans and starches is drawn-out, keeping blood sugar stable for a while before it beings to drop back down again and you require more food.

Hummus Nutrition Facts

What is hummus made of nutritionally? When you look at hummus nutrition facts, you will see that it is loaded with nutrients.

A 100-gram serving of homemade hummus contains about: (10)

177 calories
20.1 grams carbohydrates
4.9 grams protein
8.6 grams fat
4 grams fiber
0.6 milligram manganese (28 percent DV)
0.4 milligram vitamin B6 (20 percent DV)
59 micrograms folate (15 percent DV)
7.9 milligrams vitamin C (13 percent DV)
110 milligram phosphorus (11 percent DV)
0.2 milligram copper (11 percent DV)
1.6 milligrams iron (9 percent DV)
29 milligrams magnesium (7 percent DV)
1.1 milligrams zinc (7 percent DV)
0.1 milligram thiamin (6 percent DV)
49 milligrams calcium (5 percent DV)
173 milligrams potassium (5 percent DV)

The whole-food, unprocessed, plant-based ingredients used in hummus make it an excellent choice to include in your meals.

What Is Hummus Made Of?

Chickpeas
Olive oil
Garlic
Lemon juice
Sea salt
Tahini

Chickpeas

Like all beans and legumes, chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) are high in plant-based in protein and fiber. They help make you feel full, improve digestion and aid heart health too. (11)

They are also one of the longest consumed legumes in the world. They have been a part of certain traditional diets for 7,500 years. Additionally, chickpeas are a good source of three nutrients that help to reduce common symptoms associated with PMS: magnesium, manganese and vitamin B6.

Olive Oil

Olive oil used in hummus is very healthy because it is consumed without cooking the oil, and we know from research that olive oil heated repeatedly or to a very high level can oxidize and become hydrogenated.

Traditionally, hummus is often made with high-quality extra virgin olive oil, but if you decide to make your own, make sure to avoid fake olive oil, and be careful to purchase extra virgin olive oil that is truly pure and free from fillers.

Garlic

Raw garlic, as it is used in hummus, offers an impressive amount of nutrients, including flavonoids, oligosaccharides, selenium, high levels of sulfur and many more.

Consuming raw garlic frequently has been proven to help reduce risk factors associated with heart disease and various cancers. (12, 13) Garlic also acts as an antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral too.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice has an alkalizing effect on the body, which combats the high level of acidity that is common in most modern diets. Additionally, lemon juice helps increase immunity, boost digestion and keep blood sugar levels stable.

Sea Salt

An unprocessed, traditional hummus will likely use a good-quality sea salt to add flavor, as opposed to more processed “table salt,” which is iodized. Sea salt, especially Himalayan sea salt, has numerous health benefits. For one, it contains 60 trace minerals.

It also helps keep your fluid levels balanced and keep you hydrated, and it provides sodium levels that help balance potassium intake. Himalayan sea salt also contains important electrolytes and enzymes that aid in nutrient absorption.

Tahini

Tahini is made of ground sesame seeds and is thought to be one of the oldest condiments in the world. Sesame seeds offer a wide range of important micronutrients and macronutrients too — everything from trace minerals to healthy fatty acids.

According to recent studies, sesame seeds also have important beneficial properties, including antioxidant vitamin E, that can help reduce risks associated with insulin resistance, heart disease and certain cancers. (14, 15)

Aside from having a stellar ingredient list, science shows us that when the ingredients in hummus are combined, they offer even more health benefits. This has to do with the way that the fats, carbohydrates and proteins found in hummus work together to give us even more of a feeling of satiety after eating it. Because of the fats found in hummus, nutrient absorption is also increased if you pair hummus with other nutritious whole foods, like vegetables.

Types of Hummus

There are endless ways to use hummus: as a dip along with whole grain sprouted bread or crackers, smeared on a veggie-based sandwich, as a dressing on top of salad or grains, and even as a healthy substitution for other spreads like sugary jelly or butter. Due to all the different types of hummus that are now readily available in almost all grocery stores, finding and using hummus has never been easier.

If you are lucky enough to live by a health food store, definitely check out the hummus selection — chances are they carry hummus varieties that are unlike any you’ve ever seen in larger grocery chains. In health food or vegetarian-based stores, it’s now common to find hummus made from other types of beans (black beans, edamame or lentils, for example) and with ingredient additions and flavors that can spice up any bland meal. Some of my favorite types of hummus include:

cilantro
jalapeno
curry
sweet potato
roasted red pepper
black bean
eggplant (baba ghanoush)

These are just a few of the many unique twists you can create when making homemade hummus.

What Is Hummus Used In? How to Make It and Recipes

Although there are many brands of hummus on the market that use minimal ingredients and avoid an excess of added preservatives, it’s always a good idea to make your own homemade version of any food that you frequently eat whenever possible. This ensures you know exactly what is going into your recipe and that you can get the full health benefits of hummus — plus it saves you money too!

Luckily, hummus is super simple to make. All you really need are some very basic ingredients and a food processor or even blender.

Here is a basic hummus recipe to get started, and then look online or in stores to get some inspiration for different ingredients and flavors that you can try adding. I like adding pine nuts or extra garlic and roasted red bell peppers. The best thing is, making your own hummus means you can whip up a big batch all at once to keep on hand in your refrigerator and use throughout the week.

Here are some more healthy hummus recipes ideas:

Take note from some of the healthiest populations around the world and start incorporating hummus into one of your meals every day. What is hummus used in? Think outside the box and use hummus for an unexpected addition to many types of meals, just like the populations that have been eating it for hundreds of years do.

Scoop some hummus up with flatbread, serve it as part of a meze plate along with homemade baked falafel, or add it on top of grilled organic chicken or fish. No matter how you like using it best, reap the many health benefits of hummus by eating it often.

Final Thoughts on What Is Hummus

What is hummus? It’s a a creamy, thick spread made primarily from mashed chickpeas and a few other healthy ingredients.
What is hummus made of? Basic hummus recipes contain six healthy ingredients: chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, sea salt and tahini.
What is hummus good for? It’s a good source of plant-based protein, fights illness and disease, decreased inflammation, helps digestion and intestinal health, high in vitamins and minerals, supports bone health, protects heart health, and boosts energy. Now you know what to tell people when they ask what is hummus good for.

What Is Hummus? 8 Reasons to Eat It Every Day!

What Is Hummus?