Chickpeas vs Fava Beans – Which is Healthier?

Our Verdict

When comparing chickpeas to fava beans, we picked the chickpeas.

Why?

Although both are great, it still wasn’t even close. It’s one of those instances of “a very nutritious food looks bad standing next to a truly top-tier superfood”:

In terms of macros, chickpeas have more fiber, carbs, and protein, thus winning in this category.

In the category of vitamins, chickpeas have more of vitamins A, B1, B5, B6, B7, B9, C, E, and K, while fava beans have more of vitamins B2 and B3, giving chickpeas a 9:2 victory in this round.

Looking at minerals, chickpeas have more calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc, while fava beans are not higher in any minerals, giving chickpeas a total win here.

To spare fava beans’ blushes at this point, we should mention that fava beans were hot on chickpeas’ heels for all of those minerals, except perhaps manganese, so really: fava beans do have plenty to offer, just, chickpeas have even more.

Adding up the sections makes for a very clear overall win for chickpeas, but do enjoy either or both, since as we say, they’re both great, and diversity is good!

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Enjoy!