10 Incredible Benefits of Adding Chickpeas to Your Diet

5. Promote a Healthy Pregnancy

Chickpeas are one of the richest sources of vitamin B9—also called folate or folic acid—which is an essential vitamin for a healthy pregnancy. Women who are trying to conceive or who are pregnant are advised to take folic acid supplements because folate deficiency can result in severe congenital disabilities called neural tube defects such as spina bifida or anencephaly.

They are also an excellent source of another nutrient important for pregnancy—iron. About 70 percent of the iron in our bodies is found in our red blood cells (hemoglobin) which are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body—and in pregnant women, to the baby. Because a woman’s blood volume increases and her red blood cell count increases by up to 30 percent during pregnancy, it is important that she get enough iron to prevent anemia.

Constipation is another thing that pregnant women often struggle with, and since chickpeas are rich in fiber, they help to prevent constipation during pregnancy.