The name for chickpea water, especially the liquid from canned chickpeas, is aquafaba, derived from Latin words for "water" (aqua) and "bean" (faba). This starchy, protein-rich liquid is a popular vegan egg white substitute, used for making meringues, mayonnaise, and other foamy desserts, as it can be whipped and emulsified.
The liquid from canned or home cooked garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas,(and some other beans) is called aquafaba and can be very useful in cooking. It can be whipped into something much like a non-dairy whipped cream. It can also be added to baked goods as an egg substitute.
Chickpea water or aquafaba is a low-calories and low-cholesterol plant-based protein powerhouse that has a wealth of nutrients in it. Not only, it's useful as a regular dietary addition, but could also be used as an egg alternative in baked food and desserts.
“Aquafaba may help expand food options for vegans and those with egg allergies, but incorporating it into sugar-laden macarons and mousses does not necessarily make these foods healthy choices. The potential for high sodium content and BPA leached from cans is a possible cause for caution.
If you're cooking something that just calls for chickpeas, you probably don't want to use it. Especially if they tell you to rinse off the beans if you're using canned. But because the liquid is high in protein, it can be used as an egg white replacement. (Look up 'aquafaba').
Indeed, unrinsed canned beans can be great from a culinary standpoint in dishes like this white bean soup, where the liquid adds a "starchy richness," as the recipe developer Sheela Prakash notes. Draining but not rinsing canned chickpeas can also make for very creamy homemade hummus.
Chickpeas are high in FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides), which can cause significant digestive issues. When these complex sugars reach the large intestine undigested, they ferment, leading to uncomfortable symptoms. This is particularly relevant for people with conditions like IBS.
Miley Cyrus stopped being strictly vegan because she experienced health issues, feeling malnourished and that her brain wasn't functioning properly after six years on the diet, leading her to reintroduce fish and omegas for better brain function, though she still values animal welfare. She noted feeling "much sharper" and healthier after adding animal products like fish back into her diet, which was a difficult transition emotionally, but a necessary one for her body.
No, chickpeas aren't considered inflammatory. Most healthcare providers consider chickpeas to be an anti-inflammatory food. This means they can help fight harmful inflammation in your body. They're also high in fiber and a good source of protein.
Saponins: they have a bitter, soapy quality that helps aquafaba whip up and get foamy. While saponins have some positive benefits, they can be very difficult to digest, leading to digestive upset (especially for those with existing digestive issues) and may even lead to leaky gut.
With about 6 grams of protein apiece, eggs are an excellent source of this vital nutrient. But lots of other foods offer as much or more. For example, chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) provide nearly 8 grams of protein per 1/2 cup. People have enjoyed them since the days of ancient Egypt.
It turns out, that leftover liquid is kind of magic. Known as aquafaba or chickpea water, it can be used as a vegan substitute in many recipes that call for eggs or egg whites. Meringues, fancy, foamy cocktails, mayo—it may seem crazy, but it really does work! If your interest is piqued, great.
Processed foods
This is where a product from group 2 – like salt, sugar, fat or vinegar – is added to one of those minimally-processed foods. This category includes: many tinned goods, such as tomatoes, lentils and beans, tuna, chickpeas.
If you are using canned chickpeas, drain and rinse them with water to cut the sodium (salt) content by almost a half.
Ensure you thoroughly drain and rinse legumes to remove the water containing indigestible carbohydrates (aquafaba). This can lead to gas-induced discomfort. As canned beans can also be high in sodium, the rinsing method can help remove excess sodium.
Even water from packaged tofu and peas is aquafaba! Aquafaba can be used as a vegan replacement for egg whites in many sweet and savoury recipes.
Chickpeas contain oxalates, which are removed by the kidneys through urine. As oxalate levels increase in the body, they deposit in the kidney along with calcium and produce calcium oxalate stones, a type of kidney stone. The increase in uric acid levels in the blood may promote the development of kidney stones.
Gluten and Casein. People who have joint pain and are sensitive to gluten, found in wheat, barley and rye, or casein, found in dairy products, may find relief by avoiding them.
Inflammatory Foods
Miley Cyrus has publicly shared she lives with Reinke's edema, a vocal cord disorder causing swelling, hoarseness, and a deeper, raspy voice, which she embraces as part of her unique sound but makes touring difficult. While she's mentioned this and past health struggles like ovarian cysts, rumors of severe diagnoses (like cancer) circulating online (e.g., in posts from late 2025) are unverified and likely false, as recent reports focus on her vocal condition.
American actor. Over the years, Johnny Depp went through several periods when he ate vegan for various reasons – for his health, in preparation for acting roles or perhaps at the request of his (now ex-) girlfriend.
' So I had a piece of salmon.” Hathaway says the move to scrap her plant-based diet had an immediate and positive effect: “my brain felt like a computer rebooting,” she recalls. The actor previously told Harper's Bazaar that veganism did not gel well with her, saying: “I just didn't feel good or healthy … not strong”.
Beans, lentils and chickpeas are notorious for their ability to cause bloating and wind thanks to their high fibre content. Despite this, you may not need to avoid them altogether. Many people tolerate canned legumes better than they do dried varieties.
The following legumes don't have a lot of histamine but have high levels of histamine-like chemicals: Chickpeas. Lentils. Peas.
Pulses (lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas, soya beans) and products made from pulses as well as several types of vegetables (such as spinach and broccoli) contain purines, however they do not have any effect on the uric acid concentration. Contrary to older recommendations, these foodstuffs should not be limited.