Heavenly Hummus

Hummus is a chickpea based spread that originates from the Middle East.  Hummus usually consists of chickpeas (also referred to as garbanzo beans), tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic.  Hummus is extremely high in nutritional content.  I want to mention some of these amazing nutritional benefits you can get by incorporating hummus into your meal plans or lunch menu.  Hummus is high in fiber and protein which contributes to the feeling of satisfaction that comes from a serving of hummus.  Adding more fiber to your diet is an easy way to cut cholesterol,  manage blood sugar, alleviate symptoms of IBS, and lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease. There are compounds in the chickpeas as well as the tahini that help to maintain youthful and healthy looking skin. The molybdenum detoxes your skin by removing sulfites.  Sulfites are food preservatives that can cause wrinkles.  It's also been proven by several modern studies that tahini also has anti-aging qualities. Tahini, one of the main ingredients, is a paste made from ground up sesame seeds.  Sesame seeds are a good source of an amino acid methionine.  Methionine helps to detoxify the liver as well as help the body absorb other amino acids.  Tahini contains a handful of B vitamins which are crucial to healthy cell growth and division, as well as supporting a healthy metabolism and boosting your immune system.  Tahini is also very high in calcium, which of course we need to maintain strong bones and muscles.  Calcium also helps the nervous system function more optimally by assisting the nerves in sending messages between the brain all of the body parts.  Here is my recipe for Hummus:

1\2 cup tahini
juice from 3 lemons
2 cans garbanzo beans
up to 3 garlic cloves
1 cup water
1/4 cup Olive oil
up to 1/2 tsp celtic sea salt
handful of cilantro or parsley
1/2 tsp cumin
pinch of paprika
(optional) toasted pine nuts

Directions:
Start by putting the tahini and lemon in the food processor and blend for about 45 seconds.  Then, simply add the rest of the ingredients on the list, and puree until desired consistency.  For an added yum factor, add some toasted pine nuts on top:)    It's that easy!  Enjoy your hummus with some raw veggies or pita bread.  Hummus is something many toddlers also enjoy because they love to dip!  It's mostly raw, glutin-free, vegetarian and definitely delicious!  It's a great thing also to bring for a picnic or to a potluck.  Give it a try and let me know how it goes :)

For more information or for some health and wellness tips, come check out my website at restoringhealthybalance.com. For a free health consultation, please contact me at kelly@restoringhealthybalance.com