The Power of Faba Beans: A Sustainable Plant-Based Protein

By One Degree Organics
Clean Food, Transparency

In the ever-evolving world of plant-based nutrition, vegan diets, and clean eating- faba beans stand out as a sustainable source of protein with a remarkable list of benefits. These unique beans go by various names—faba, fava, wide beans, or horse beans—but they all share one remarkable quality: they are incredibly nutritious.

What makes faba beans such a powerhouse is that they are a protein-rich, plant-based food filled with all the essential nutrients your body needs. Join us as we explore the different types of plant-based proteins, identify the benefits of vegan diets, uncover the recommended daily protein intake, and share why we chose this incredible ingredient to be the protein source of our Protein Oatmeal & Granola range, serving 10g of delicious plant-based protein per serving.

WHAT IS PLANT BASED PROTEIN?

The term ‘Plant-Based Protein’ has gained significant attention for those seeking a more sustainable, healthier diet. ¹.

Proteins are made up of twenty amino acid building blocks. Eleven of these are called nonessential as they can be produced in your body. The other nine are called essential, meaning they need to be obtained through the diet.

Plant-based foods offer a rich and varied source of protein filled with health benefits- unlike animal proteins, which can be high in saturated fats and cholesterol. Although protein can come from both meat and plant-based foods, the environmental impact of following a complete plant-based diet is less than that of a meat-based- which is why many have switched to vegan or vegetarian lifestyles.²

Did you know that plant-based proteins in the past have been known as ‘incomplete’ proteins since they are limited in one or more essential amino acids? Animal proteins, however, have been known as ‘complete’ proteins because they contain all the essential amino acids-the few exceptions include plant-based ingredients like quinoa, oats, and faba beans.³

Choosing plant-based foods are part of a healthy eating pattern. The type of protein you eat is often more important than the amount. By incorporating a wide variety of plant-based proteins in your diet it can improve your heart health, blood sugar, and sustained energy.

HOW MUCH PROTEIN DO WE NEED IN A DAY?

In essence, there is no one size-fits-all approach to nutrition. There are a variety of factors that contribute to our nutritional needs, including exercise, body weight, height, age, gender and even environmental conditions.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound. The RDA is the minimum amount you need to prevent yourself from getting sick, it is not the specific amount you are supposed to eat every day. For a relatively active adult, a daily protein intake to meet the RDA would supply as little as 10% of his or her total daily calories.⁴

Protein is an essential part of any diet, whether vegan, vegetarian or other. Proteins are what help us stay full for longer, in more scientific terms it reduces your level of the hunger hormone ghrelin whilst also boosting the levels of peptide YY which is a hormone that makes you feel full.⁵

THE BENEFITS OF FABA BEAN

Faba beans are not only a great source of protein and essential nutrients, but they also provide functional health benefits if consumed daily as part of a plant-based diet. This is a small, yet simple ingredient with remarkable benefits which make it stand out. ⁶

Faba Bean Protein: A Nutritional Powerhouse

This plant-based protein is a rich source of fiber for healthy digestion, manganese for bone health, folate, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus. Faba beans have a well-balanced amino acid profile making them a functional superfood with antidiabetic, antihypertensive, cholesterol-lowering, and anti-inflammatory benefits.

In addition to these functional benefits, faba beans contain antioxidants that aid in the prevention of arthritis, vision loss, DNA and nerve cell damage, proving that food is medicine. These small beans contain almost a third of your daily protein needs and since protein is one of the most important nutrients in your diet, they hold a powerful amount of value in any diet.⁷

Faba Bean Protein: A Cleaner Choice

How does faba bean protein stack up against other plant-based proteins? Faba beans are not genetically modified and are not a regulated allergen which compared to other plant-based proteins is a competitive advantage.⁸

Faba beans are lower in fat compared to other plant-based proteins making it a cleaner and more appealing choice for health-conscious vegans or vegetarians. The faba bean protein in our Sprouted Protein Oatmeal and Granola range is a certified organic ingredient, meaning it was grown without pesticides and harmful chemicals. In addition, we are non-GMO verified, chlormequat-free, Kosher, and gluten-free.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CERTIFIED LABELS

IS FABA BEAN PROTEIN BETTER THAN OTHER PLANT-BASED PROTEIN?

It’s fair to say that in the recent years, the plant-based protein market has witnessed a significant change in ingredients, and this is driven by customers who are becoming increasingly aware of health and sustainability.

Aside from the nutritional benefits of faba beans they also have a low environmental footprint, and as populations grow the demand for sustainable food sources becomes increasingly important. ⁹

Faba beans, as we will elaborate further on below, also contributes to the soil health which farmers use as an organic farming method in ‘crop rotation’ which takes place in between harvests. Compared to other pulses like chickpeas, lentils, and beans faba beans have a higher protein content and is lower in fat. Faba beans like most plant-based ingredients deserve more room on your plate and in your bowl.

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE VS. PLANT-BASED ORGANIC FARMING

Agriculture

WHAT KINDS OF PLANT-BASED PROTEINS ARE THERE?

Faba beans are complete protein, as it contains all nine essential amino acids and is also high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. However, it is recommended that if following a plant-based diet to consume a variety of vegan foods to ensure that you are getting all the essential nutrients. This is because as mentioned before, plant-based foods are limited in one or more essential amino acids. ¹⁰

Here are the different plant-based ingredients that have high protein ¹¹

Tofu, tempeh and edamame all contain 12–20 g of protein per 100 g.
Lentils contain 18 g of protein per 198 g.
Oats contain 5 g of protein per 40 g.
Most beans contain 15 g of protein per 170 g.
Hemp seeds contain 9 g of protein per 30 g.
Green peas contain 9 g of protein per 160 g.
Quinoa contain 8-9 g of protein per 185 g.
Chia seeds contain 5 g of protein per 28 g.

ARE FABA BEANS SUSTAINABLE?

One of the key advantages of faba bean protein is its sustainability. Faba beans are known for their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil which reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and promotes soil health. These beans also have a smaller carbon footprint compared to other protein crops like soy and peas. ¹²

It has been said that replacing some red and processed meat with pea or faba bean products is a nutritionally safe option to make diets more sustainable. Legumes like faba beans have five to seven times less greenhouse gases than any other crop and reduces the need for fertilizer as crops like these nourish the soil. ¹³

At One Degree Organics we believe that healthy soil, make healthy crops that makes healthy people.

Our Sprouted Protein Breakfasts

When it comes to selecting the right plant-based ingredients, especially for the benefit of increased protein per serving, there are several key factors that must be considered, from functionality to taste, nutritional value and sustainability our Research & Product Development team have a challenging job.

While faba beans have been eaten for centuries, 95% of all that is cultivated today goes straight to animal feed. It hasn’t really been seen as a protein source for humans in recent years because the beans can have a bitter taste.¹⁴

At One Degree Organics, we take pride in our dedicated R&D teams, who tirelessly explore and test a diverse range of meticulously sourced ingredients. Our mission is clear: to find the perfect blend of incredible, nutrient-dense ingredients while upholding the highest clean and safe standards of our certifications.

We’re excited to introduce our new Sprouted Protein Oatmeal range, made with organic oats and mineral-rich faba bean crisps. Each serving packs 10g of plant-based protein to fuel life’s adventures. Our sprouted oatmeal isn’t just a meal it’s the perfect start to your busy day, the snack when you’re craving something sweet, clean, and deliciously simple and it’s the perfect serving worth bringing along camping, hiking, or work for a mid-day snack.

This sprouted oatmeal is a testament to our belief that plant-based can be healthy, hassle-free, and indulgent. With the goodness of faba beans and other clean ingredients sourced from certified organic farmers around the globe, experience the transformative power of plant-based foods with every nourishing serving of our new Sprouted Protein Instant Oatmeal.

For more exciting news and updates- follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Pinterest, and fill your feed with the goodness of plant-based nutrition, clean ingredients, and easy recipes in our community of like-minded foodies.

REEFERENCES

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Faba Bean: An Untapped Source of Quality Plant Proteins and Bioactives Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9025908/ Accessed on: November, 2024
Health Benefits of Fava Beans Available from: https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-of-fava-beans Accessed on: November, 2024
Faba Bean: An Untapped Source of Quality Plant Proteins and Bioactives Available from: https:pm.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9025908 Accessed on: November, 2024
Faba Beans Source Protein Available from: https://phys.org/news/2024-01-faba-beans-source-protein.html Accessed on: November, 2024
Unlocking The Secrets Of Plant-Based Protein & Why Fava Bean Protein Reigns Supreme. Available from: https://nccingredients.com/unlocking-the-secrets-of-plant-based-protein-why-fava-bean-protein-reigns-supreme/ Accessed on: November, 2024
Protein For Vegans Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-for-vegans-vegetarians#seitan. Accessed on: November, 2024
Unlocking The Secrets Of Plant-Based Protein & Why Fava Bean Protein Reigns Supreme. Available from: https://nccingredients.com/unlocking-the-secrets-of-plant-based-protein-why-fava-bean-protein-reigns-supreme/ Accessed on: November, 2024
Beans Benefits Proteins Source Available from: https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/beans-benefits-protein-source/.Accessed on: November, 2024
Fava Beans Plant-based Protein Ingredient Available from: https://www.fooddive.com/news/fava-beans-plant-protein-ingredient/616861/ Accessed on: November, 2024