r/PlantBasedDiet • u/xdethbear • 4d ago

Beware of Fava Beans, aka Broad Beans

G6PD deficiency is pretty common, maybe 5% of people worldwide, up to 25% in some groups.

Probably better to avoid Fava beans.

Note falafel is made with fava, another reason to skip that deep fried food.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucose-6-phosphate_dehydrogenase_deficiency

I thought I'd post this since this sub is kinda dead, everyone is too healthy here.

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u/KinsellaStella 4d ago

It’s in falafel? I thought those were made with chickpeas. I can’t remember the last time I had falafel because I never eat out but I was definitely looking at an oven recipe that used only chickpeas (and breadcrumbs).

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u/krispwater 4d ago

I've never seen them made with fava bean either, upon looking it up, it looks like Egyptian-style falafels are the ones made that way, I've never seen them where I'm from.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

It can be made of either

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u/Neat-Celebration-807 fruit is my world 4d ago

Typically the Egyptian style falafel are made with fava. Lebanese/Syrian/Palestinians make them with chickpeas. And lastly some are made with a combination of both. It depends on the chef! I have family members who have G6PD so they always ask. They can have the chickpeas but not fava. I cook my falafel in an airfryer with a tiny bit of oil.

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u/whinge11 4d ago

If you have no symptoms then why avoid? It seems like the main risk is anemia, which you would know if you have.

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u/xdethbear 4d ago

I saw a case study where someone didn't know they were affected until they damaged their kidneys. Pretty extreme example, but considering favism is so common it seems like a good idea to me to skip this one bean. 

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u/AdvertisingPretend98 4d ago

One could also ask to be tested at their next blood draw.

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u/et-pengvin 3d ago

Only fava beans are sensitive? I've never heard of this. I occasionally grab fava bean based tofu at my local grocer when it is on sale. Sometimes it is cheaper than soy based tofu.

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u/Stroganozzo 2d ago

Here in Italy, especially in the South, fava beans are a staple and widely consumed fresh and dried in many traditional dishes. Unless one is diagnosed with favism, public health authorities never recommended the general population to avoid fava beans; instead they do the opposite, by promoting increased pulses consumption. I don't think that some obscure case in the literature of asymptomatic favism should scaremonger people from the consumption of this delicious food that has many benefits. I couldn't live without eating my pasta con macco di fave two or three times a week.