4 reasons why lupins are very healthy

The seeds of the lupins They are edible legumes from the Mediterranean area. They are also known as “chocho” or “lupin” and have many healthy properties

Where do the lupines come from? Many plant lovers are no doubt familiar with lupins from their own garden. The legume impresses with its upright, colorful inflorescences that grow up to 1.5 meters in height. However, Less is known about the healthy properties of lupine seeds.

The lupine seeds are larger than a chickpea and their shape is flattened. The seeds of cultivated sweet lupines are edible and they can be processed into a wide range of foods.

Lupins: properties and nutritional value

Lupines are a excellent source of nutrients for vegetarian and vegan diets. Lupin or lupine seeds have it all.

100 g of seeds contain approximately:

Protein: 36 grams Carbohydrates: 40 grams Fiber: 19 grams Unsaturated fatty acids: 8.8 grams Potassium: 1 gram Sodium: 15 milligrams Calcium: 176 milligrams Magnesium: 198 milligrams Iron: 4.4 milligrams Vitamin C: 4.8 milligrams

1. Large doses of protein

Depending on the variety, 100 g of lupine seeds contain up to 40 g of protein. Other vegetable sources cannot offer as much protein.

The special thing about lupine proteins is that contains all essential amino acids that our body needs and cannot produce on its own.

Proteins are the building blocks of tissues. They are essential for the construction and cell renewal.

2. They act against gout and kidney stones

Lupine seeds and vegan products made from its flour they are well tolerated by people suffering from gout or kidney stones.

Deposits in the joints that cause the painful gout or lead to the formation of kidney stones are related to elevated levels of uric acid in the blood.

Uric acid is formed as a byproduct of the breakdown of purines. These substances are found in many protein foods of animal origin. People suffering from metabolic disorders such as gout cannot excrete all the uric acid produced by the breakdown of purines. In these cases, a low purine diet is recommended. Lupines contain protein, but They are poor in purines.

3. They reduce cholesterol levels

lupine seeds They do not contain gluten or cholesterol. In fact, the dietary fiber in the seeds even has a positive effect on the level of cholesterol in the blood.

An Australian study showed that lupine fiber could lower levels of harmful LDL cholesterol in the blood. The same conclusion was reached by another German study from the University of Halle-Wittenberg.

Elevated cholesterol levels are responsible for dangerous cardiovascular diseases and cause heart attacks or strokes.

4. They protect the skin

Lupine seeds are full of plant pigments. Its bright yellow-orange color is the result of the carotenoid content. lupins they are particularly rich in beta-carotene, which is metabolized into vitamin A in our bodies.

Vitamin A has a protective and beneficial effect on skin cells. Only if our body has enough vitamin A available it can repair the damage that free radicals cause in skin cells and new healthy cells can be formed.

At the same time, vitamin A is beneficial for eyesight. The vitamin is used to build visual pigments in the cells of the eyes. If we lack vitamin A, vision in low light decreases.

Do not eat raw lupine seeds

Wild lupines and garden lupins look beautiful with their towering inflorescences, but their seeds They’re poisonous.

lupine seeds naturally contain lectins, bitter substances that can cause life-threatening respiratory paralysis in humans.

Traditionally, before lupine seeds could be eaten, they had to be preserved in brine for several weeks, then boiled and processed to remove the toxic lectins from the seeds.

Today, however, lupine crops have been selected to be low in lectins.

Scientific references: