Are Fava Beans Safe For You? | Know and Grow Fava Beans/ Broad Beans
I’m so excited to harvest my fava beans/ broad beans. This was my first time growing these beans. Honestly, I didn’t even know about these beans until I grew them for the first time. So it was fun. I tried dried beans and didn’t find them as flavorful as kidney beans or other kinds of beans that we eat. But, the green fava beans or broad beans changed my mind. These are cute-looking beans and taste very good.
Fava bean is one of the first cultivated crops in the world. The exact origin is not known but it first originated or cultivated in eastern countries and part of the middle east. It is actually surprising since fava beans love moisture and I didn’t think middle eastern countries had moist soils back then.
Botanical Name
The botanical name of Fava beans is Vicia faba. They are also famously known as Broad beans or Haba. And then there are many other local names.
Nutrition
Like many other nutritious foods, broad beans are also energy-rich natural multivitamins. They are carbohydrate-rich beans and very creamy in taste. Carbohydrate content is approximately 60% and protein content is around 25%. Fava beans are a good source of vitamin B and folate, They also contain vitamin K and C. Other than vitamins broad beans are packed with a number of minerals and microelements. So healthy. Isn’t it?
Anti-Nutritional Factors and Favism/ G6PD Deficiency
But again like any other beans, they also contain some anti-nutritional factors like Phyto-agglutinins and levodopa in small amounts. You can boil these beans to eliminate the harmful effects of these phytochemicals. Other than that there is a genetic condition called G6PD deficiency. It is an enzyme that is important for healthy red blood cells and deficiency of this enzyme can cause a type of anemia called hemolytic anemia. It happens because the blood cells are destroyed more quickly. The symptoms depend on the severity of the disease. They can range from pale skin, frequent infections, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, jaundice. This condition is also called Favism. It is also caused by some other medications and consuming fava beans. So, people with a deficiency of G6PD should avoid fava beans.
