Super healthy foods aren’t exactly the sexiest item you’ll find on your supermarket shelf. However, often what they lack in the looks department, they more than make up for with their nutritional content - case in point, the humble lupin bean.
A valuable member of the legume family and cousin of equally fugly foods, the chickpea and the lentil, lupin beans have long been a popular snack in South America and Mediterranean countries and are set to make their mark on our shores too thanks to a string of studies over the last couple of decades shedding light on their roster of health benefits - of which there are many…
Their benefits broken down
1. They’re high in fibre
But not just any fibre, gut-friendly prebiotic fibre to help your good probiotic bacteria thrive. “The benefits of including various different types of fibre from a wide range of sources, including lupins, is that you’ll be feeding different types of bugs in your gut,” says nutritionist and chair of BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine), Miguel Toribio-Mateas . “This will likely increase the diversity of your gut flora, which has been seen to correspond with better chances of the rest of your body staying healthy too.”
The fact that they’re low in starch gives them an added point of difference to other fibre-rich foods. “This is very unusual for a bean and is particularly interesting for those following a lower carbohydrate lifestyle,” says Miguel. Why? “Because starch is basically a long chain of glucose (sugar) molecules joined together in a way that makes it very easy for the it to be broken down into glucose again not long after you eat.”
This could be especially appealing to shoppers concerned about recent headlines surrounding low carb diets. “If you’re confused by the study that claimed those on low carb diets are likely to have shorter lives, so that you know, this study didn’t take into consideration groups of people who have low starch diets that are rich in fibre and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, etc.) from a rich diversity of plant-based foods,” points out Miguel. “So the fact that lupins don’t add to your starch load is fantastic.”
2. They’re anti-inflammatory...
...due to their beta-glucan content. “Beta-glucans are natural compounds present in other plants such as oats and mushrooms, and are known for their anti-inflammatory activity and for regulating the immune system,” says Miguel. “It’s what scientists call ‘immunomodulating.’”
This coupled with their antioxidant content gives them impressive protective qualities. “Lupin seeds also contain some interesting antioxidant molecules, including some quirky types of polyphenols, but also some funky amino acid configuration that gives the actual protein in lupins free-radical scavenging power.”
3. They’re high in protein
Which makes them a valuable for those who follow a meat-free diet . “Lupins provide around 35 per cent protein,” highlights Miguel. “This, compared to chickpeas at 11 per cent, makes them a good bean choice for vegans.”
Furthermore, the quality of the protein that they provide is pretty impressive too. “Apart from methionine and cysteine - two sulphur-based amino acids that are in shorter supply in lupin seeds, the rest are abundant. To get over that shortfall, you can eat foods like nuts, beef, lamb, cheese, yoghurt, milk kefir, turkey, pork, fish, shellfish, soy, eggs, and other beans, e.g. kidney or lentils in order to achieve a more complete amino acid profile. This makes the protein more usable by your body. Scientists call this protein bioavailability.”
The best ways to eat them
They’re extremely versatile, with the easiest and cheapest options being eating the whole beans raw or cooked. “You could just use the whole bean in casseroles or soups,” says Miguel. “In Spain, where I am originally from, beans are cooked, cooled-down and then gently pickled in salt and vinegar. They’re then eaten as a snack. If you want them ready-cooked, Biona , £2.10, has them in a glass jar and they’re not too dear.”