Is hummus healthy? I think it depends upon what you add to it. For example, when I make my own red bell pepper hummus I don’t add any olive oil or tahini.

You have to read labels at the store very carefully when you buy processed hummus dip because they usually add oil. You can add just about anything you want to your own hummus. You will save money when you make it yourself. You also know for sure what’s in it.

Oil, no matter what kind is not healthy for you. I know, it is believed ‘olive oil’ is healthy, but it is not. Refined oils hurt the inner lining of the arteries and blood vessels.

But, if you hear something said many times, (like TV commercials and the media in general) you might think oil is healthy. Oil is mostly all calories. It’s not worth the taste because of the damage it can do to your cardiovascular system.

Hummus is made from chickpeas (or garbanzo beans.) I buy a bag of them, wash and rinse, then boil them. I let them sit in the pot about an hour to soften and soak up the water. Then, I cook them for about another hour. They are real easy to make and very tasty on celery or on a piece of lettuce rolled up as a snack.

Furthermore, hummus is good used as a spread or on any vegetable. It is a Mediterranean spread made with chickpeas, lemon, garlic, olive oil and a roasted sesame seed paste called tahini.

Personally, I don’t use the tahini and olive oil, because of the huge amount of fat. But, you don’t need much to flavor your hummus up, so it’s up to you how much you add or if you add any at all.

I think my hummus recipe tastes just fine without any oils at all. You might want to try yours with and without any oil to see how you like it best. I make hummus once a week and snack on it almost every day.

Is hummus healthy? I think it is with lemon, lime, garlic and other spices. You can also add onion, parsley and cilantro. It depends upon how you want your hummus to taste.

Did you know chickpeas are a legume? These have protein, carbs and fiber like pinto beans. If you add tahini and olive oil to your hummus, it will not be a low calorie snack. I don’t add them, because they both cause me inflammation.

Note- consult your doctor before you change your diet.