Today, hummus is one of the most popular foods in the western world – so popular that tobacco farmers have switched to cultivate it. So, I think it’s safe to say that hummus has conquered America… and most likely your fridge!
But are you getting more than you’ve bargained for with your store-bought hummus? And by more, I don’t mean a good deal but rather, low-quality ingredients like Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Soybean Oil?
The truth is, authentic hummus is actually very beneficial to your health; it’s the low-quality ingredients and unnecessary additives that are not. And unfortunately it is those seemingly insignificant ingredients that cancel out all the potential benefits you can get from eating chickpeas.
It is important to remember that when you purchase packaged hummus, you’re paying for convenience – not quality.
If you’re going with a brand like Sabra, don’t expect much coming from a company partially owned by PepsiCo. Instead of giving you authentic hummus made with olive oil, they’ve swapped it out for, nutritionally inferior soybean oil instead. Why? Because it is much cheaper to produce.
… But what’s good for a company’s bottom line isn’t necessarily good for your health.
| Homemade Hummus | Sabra Classic Hummus |
| Organic Chickpeas (aka Garbanzo Beans) | Chickpeas (aka Garbanzo Beans) |
| Organic Tahini (Ground Sesame Seeds) | Tahini (Ground Sesame Seeds) |
| Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Soybean Oil |
| Filtered Water | Water |
| Himalayan Sea Salt | Salt |
| Garlic | |
| Citric Acid | |
| Potassium Sorbate |
When you make the conscious decision to avoid low-quality hydrogenated oils like soybean oil you are taking the steps to prevent chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease and cancer. When the consumption of this highly processed, low-quality oil has been linked to chronic disease, it definitely makes me think twice about consuming it.
Taking control of what goes into your body not only means avoiding hydrogenated oils, but it also means avoiding synthetic ingredients like citric acid and potassium sorbate that only make matters worse. Both ingredients have been linked to abdominal pain, migraine headaches and skin allergies. Studies have even shown potassium sorbate to be genotoxic with the ability to cause genetic damage and cellular mutations leading to cancer.
Making your own food means taking control of what goes into your body and reaping all the benefits that come along with it.
The nutritional value you get from consuming authentic hummus means consuming a rich amount of Folate (aka Vitamin B9), crucial in maintaining healthy brain function, supporting DNA synthesis and preventing cardiovascular disease and mental decline. Not only does hummus made from olive oil taste much better, but it also offers a rich amount of antioxidants that are key in preventing chronic inflammation (not causing it) and supporting DNA function (not destroying it).
Organic Opulence’s Pick
When choosing the right ingredients to make my hummus, I always strive to support the brands that reflect values of honesty and authenticity in their product.
My choice for Organic Chickpeas (whether dry or canned) is always Eden Foods for their commitment to purity.
Feel free to checkout my personal homemade hummus recipe below:
Homemade Hummus Recipe
(2-3 Servings using a Food Processor)
1 Cup Dry Chickpeas (soaked overnight then boiled) from Eden Foods
2 Tablespoons Tahini from Once Again Nut Butter
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Bragg
1/2 Teaspoon Himalayan Sea Salt from HimalaSalt
1/2 Cup Filtered Water using Big Berkey Water Filters
(Lemon, Black Pepper, Paprika & Garlic TT)
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