The Feel-Good Beans.

"A Plant a Day"- Fava Bean, Faba Bean, Broad Beans (Vicia faba)- 

The Feel-Good Beans. The Fava Bean is a bean in the pea family that has been cultivated for so long, nobody is entirely sure of its native origin. Unlike many beans, the Fava Bean grows on upright stems (not a climber) that are square in cross-section! They produce striking sweet-scented flowers that are about 1 inch long and have white petals with a black spot. Both the beans and the leaves of the Fava Bean are edible. The seeds are consumed either raw or cooked (usually cooked), and the leaves consumed cooked like spinach.  Fava Beans are enjoyed throughout many world cuisines, and they are nutritional with a high content of folate and dietary minerals (manganese, phosphorus, magnesium and iron). They also have a moderate to rich content of B vitamins, and contain L-dopa, protein and vitamin K. As they are in the legume family, they have the ability to fix nitrogen and are often used as a cover crop or green manure.

There is some evidence that Fava Beans can aid in promoting a positive mood, as they are not only a source of Folate, but also of L-dopa, which can convert in the body to one of the body’s “feel good” hormones, dopamine. However, they if they are taken in excess, they can cause a vitamin B6 deficiency.  Due to their content of B vitamins, antioxidants, magnesium and iron, they are also thought to promote heart health and energy. Fava Beans have approximately 20 mg/g dry weight of L-Dopa.  In one study of Fava Beans, it was found that they prolonged the “on” periods in Parkinson’s disease patients that had “on-off” fluctuations.

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**This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.