Chickpea

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Iron levels in food²

  Adding iron to chickpea foods raised the iron people's bodies could take in from them.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Seed nutrition and disease³

  Chickpea seeds have carbohydrates, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, and may help with some human diseases.

• Open question

  Plant-based food ingredients⁴

  Chickpea can be made into healthy ingredients for plant-based meat and dairy alternatives.

• Concern

  Allergy and nutrient absorption⁵

  Chickpeas contain natural compounds that can block nutrient use and trigger allergies in sensitive people.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar control⁶

  Chickpea is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and is a boon for diabetics.

• Concern

  Allergic reactions to legumes⁷

  Chickpea can cause allergic reactions, sometimes triggered by exercise, and scientists say more research is needed.

• Benefit

  Protein for the body⁸

  Chickpea protein gives you essential amino acids, but it does not mix well into some foods.

• Concern

  Allergic reactions to foods⁹

  Chickpea allergy may not happen on its own; it seems tied to pea or lentil allergy.

How it’s made and used

• Starch digestion speed¹⁰

  In lab studies, how chickpea starch is digested changed when stomach acid shifted gradually instead of staying fixed.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.