10 Benefits of Besan/ Chickpea Flour/ Indian Gram Flour: A Superfood for Weight Loss and Much More.

My post on superfood Green Gram or Green Moong is the most read article on this blog and I love the response I get on it. Green gram has a lot of benefits, its filling and comforting. I always wanted to write about another such superfood and I believe Besan has similar qualities. Besan is used to make many Indian snacks but if you are concerned about weight then you should avoid the deep-fried varieties.

Following are the reasons why you should consider adding Besan/ Chickpea Flour/ Indian Gram Flour to your diet.

10 Benefits of Besan/ Chickpea Flour/ Indian Gram Flour:

1. High Protein Content: 100 grams of Besan/ Gram Flour has 22 grams Protein which is higher than any other flour. Protein aids in weight loss does not spike influence so it does not make you eat more or eat more frequently.
2. Gluten Free: People love to hate Gluten. Some people have serious medical conditions or allergies and they cannot have Gluten and some like to avoid it for weight loss purposes. If you prefer Gluten-free food then you can add Chickpea Flour in your diet.
3. Aids in Weight Loss: 100 grams of Besan/ Gram Flour has 10 grams of Dietary fiber and 387 Calories. The Dietary fiber helps to improve digestion which aids in Weight loss. The low calorie makes besan a perfect snack for the calorie conscious.
4. Controls Blood Sugar: Low Glycemic index and Low-calorie properties make besan an idle food to control blood sugar spikes.
5. Good for Heart: Besan contains no trans fats, has healthy unsaturated fat and high soluble fiber content which improves the heart health.
6. Lowers Cholesterol Level: Besan has healthy unsaturated fat which helps lower the cholesterol level.
7. Cures Anaemia: Besan is rich in Iron and hence helps with iron deficiencies disorder like Anaemia.
8. Loaded with Goodies: Besan is Rich in Calcium, Magnesium, Iron and Anti-Oxidants Niacin (B3), Folate (B9), Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc. It also has healthy unsaturated fat and High soluble fiber contents which makes Besan a superfood.
9. Controls Blood Pressure: Magnesium in Besan helps to strengthen the cardiovascular health making heart strong and regulating the blood pressure.
10. Improves Bones Health: The high Calcium and Phosphorus content in Besan helps in strengthening our bones.

My preferred Besan Recipe –

Besan Chilla/ Chickpea Pancake/ Vegan Omlette:

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp Besan/ Chickpea Flour,

1 tsp Red Chili Powder,

½ tsp Turmeric Powder,

½ tsp Salt,

1 tsp Cumin Seeds/Jeera,

1 tsp Sesame Seeds,

1 Red Onion chopped cubed,

2 tsp Spinach,

2 tsp chopped Coriander leaves

(any chopped vegetables you would like to add)

Water to mix the batter.

1 tsp oil/ ghee or butter to coat the pan.

Method:

Mix all the ingredients into a bowl except water and mix well.

Add water little at a time till the batter becomes smooth.

Heat a pan and coat it with 1 tsp oil,

Pour a ladle full batter on the heated and oiled pan to make a pancake.

Cook the pancake on medium and when the side on the pan is golden brown flip the pancake to cook the other side.

Continue to make pancakes till all the batter is over.

Serve with a little ghee or butter and some green chutney.

Besan has a lot of benefits for the skin too. Some of my most preferred face packs are made with besan which I will share in a new post.

Kindly do leave a Comment below or by clicking “Comment” link under the Title of the Post, I Would Love to Know Your Opinion on This.