Hands off the Hummus

Ingredients from a bestselling hummus brand: Cooked Chickpeas [Chickpeas (Garbanzos), Water], Tahini (Ground Sesame), Soybean And/Or Canola Oil, Garlic, Salt, Citric Acid, Seasoning And Spices, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate Added To Maintain Freshness.

Hormone Havoc:

Every week I hear from well-meaning clients who say “I eat healthy snacks like hummus and carrots.”They always follow up by saying they are starving all the time and have low energy. One thing people do not realize is that garbanzo beans are over 60% starch, meaning they spike blood sugar and make people hungrier than they were before. Anytime our blood sugar spikes from eating high carbohydrate foods a subsequent crash a few hours later will cause an energy drain. This cycle will make people feel tired, fat and hungry.

People start with good intentions of eating just few bites of hummus, but it usually turns into a whole container because it actually increases appetite. Unfortunately many times hummus is just a delivery method for corn or pita chips which also increases blood glucose and fat storage leading to heart damaging abdominal obesity. People get a double whammy of sugar shock from eating hummus and tortilla/pita chips that are disguised as health foods by the brainwashing health media.

Unhealthy Oils:

Many store bought hummus dips are made with rancid, extremely processed canola or soybean oil which causes advanced aging which increases wrinkles and age spots. Soybean and canola oil are extracted with hexane (think gasoline) and predominantly coming from genetically modified  seeds made by Monsanto which have never been proven safe for human consumption. These oils also have a substance called Endocannabinoids that is similar to what is found in cannabis (THC) that can make you feel hungrier.

Beans an earth saving super food?

“The truth is that agriculture is a relentless assault against the planet, and more of the same won’t save us. In service to annual grains, humans have devastated prairies and forests, driven countless species extinct, altered the climate, and destroyed the topsoil–the basis of life itself”.-Lierre Kieth

After reading The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability by Lierre Kieth I really saw the light on this issue. Beans are often touted as a wonder food that will save the earth, but actually more animals are killed from the production of agricultural products like beans and grains than sustainable systems such as grass fed beef.

Another problem is that most commercial hummus is not organic which means it will have GMO ingredients.  Non-organic foods also use harmful pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that will pollute the groundwater and damage the microbes in the topsoil. Without rich topsoil (the top 2- 8 inches) which has highest concentration of organic matter, microorganisms and is where most of the plant activity occurs, there will be nowhere to grow food. Over time loss of topsoil leads to desertification and climate change. We hear a lot of messages in the media about how beans and whole grains will save the earth when actually big agriculture is what is hurting our earth the most.

Lectins:

Lectins are protective layers found in all beans that keep them being digested so they can germinate into a plant. Lectins can cause major intestinal discomfort to those who eat the seeds or in this case garbanzo beans whipped into hummus. Beans are poisonous seeds that will do anything they can not to be broken down by our digestive systems (including making people fart a lot). Excessive flatulence is not a sign of health, farting actually signals that what you ate does not agree with your system.

Beans that contain lectins that can irritate our small intestine causing swelling, bloating, as well as aches and pains. Lectins can cause food sensitivities by crossing the inflamed junctions of our intestinal lining allowing undigested food particles into the blood stream. This process sounds alarm signals in the body creating a hyper-immune state where the body mistakenly attacks its own tissue leading to autoimmune conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, ect.

Ancient Mediterranean people knew about lectins so they soaked their garbanzo beans which somewhat reduces the gut irritating aspects of the bean/seed.  I have a hunch that Trader Joe’s didn’t soak the garbanzo beans before making your hummus. most people today won’t go through the hassle of thoroughly soaking beans and usually people buy canned beans or pre-made products like hummus dip.

Phytates: 

Beans have chemicals called phytates that bind with minerals making them less likely to be absorbed by the body when these foods are eaten. Commonly these include magnesium, calcium and iron. Most people I work with can not spare these vital minerals needed for strong bones, toned muscles and osteoporosis prevention.

Mystery ingredients:

Potassium sorbate is a preservative used to prohibit molds and yeasts. It can be a skin, gut and respiratory irritant.

Natural flavors are ambiguously named for a reason because manufacturers do not want us to know what this means. These can have hidden wheat and soy ingredients. They can also be full of MSG which is a proven neurotoxin and appetite stimulant. Many people feel extremely bloated or have rashes after eating MSG.

Citric Acid is another preservative usually derived from corn which is a common food sensitivity. Most of it comes from China and is heavily used in cleaning products. Is that what you want to be eating?

Bottom Line:

If you want to be healthy and happy with your body avoid beans and hummus made at home or at the store. Try my Baba ghanoush recipe here that will give you a taste of the Mediterranean without the bloat and gut inflammation! Also you can read more about why beans are not the best choice for weight loss and gut health here.

Meet hummus' healthy cousin- Baba Ghanoush

For more great recipes from a grain, dairy and legume free perspective get the amazing cookbook by Bill Staley and Hayley Mason:

 

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Caitlin Weeks

Caitlin Weeks, BA, Certified Nutrition Consultant, C.H.E.K. Holistic Lifestyle Coach, and NASM Certified Personal Trainer is a San Francisco based Holistic Nutritionist serving clients locally and beyond (US & international) via phone and Skype consultations. Since 2001 Caitlin has had success conquering obesity after a lifelong struggle with her weight. Since 2009 she has been winning the battle over Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis by managing stress and using a paleo diet. She is committed to educating others about the benefits of traditional foods and efficient exercise. She writes weekly articles about health and nutrition on her blog: www.grassfedgirl.com

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