Why some people should avoid fava beans despite health benefits

Fava beans are one of my favorite treats. Many people wait all year for the opportunity to prepare fresh fava beans, considering that they are available for a relatively short period. Fava beans also have numerous health benefits.

Fava beans are rich in B vitamins, vitamin K, protein, dietary fiber, magnesium, iron, and copper. Additionally, they are fat-free, support weight loss, and lower the level of bad LDL cholesterol in the blood. Therefore, they are a snack that positively affects us. Nevertheless, certain groups of people should limit their consumption.

For people with diabetes, fava beans can be problematic. This is because of the high glycemic index of cooked fava beans, which can raise blood glucose levels in diabetics. Avoiding this snack is therefore highly recommended.

People suffering from gout should also avoid fava beans. Fava beans contain purines, which can increase the production of uric acid that accumulates in tissues and organs. This isn’t the only contraindication related to the urinary system. Consumption of fava beans is also not recommended for kidney stones because purines can lead to the formation of kidney stones and crystals in the urinary tract.

Excessive consumption of fava beans or contact with their pollen can, in some people, increase the risk of favism. This condition, also known as bean disease, is caused by a genetic mutation leading to a deficiency of one of the enzymes. Favism manifests itself in the shortening of the lifespan of red blood cells, potentially leading to anemia. Notably, the disease has a variety of symptoms.

Among them are abdominal pain, vomiting, headaches, lower back pain, pallor, jaundice, dark-colored urine, and anemia. Favism primarily affects people with genetic predispositions.

People with Parkinson's disease often take medications containing levodopa, which in the brain converts into dopamine. Consumption of fava beans can increase dopamine levels in the blood, which can lead to undesirable health effects such as problems with attention or perception and even hallucinations.