Chestnuts vs Chickpea Flour: Which One is Better for You?

Although chestnuts and chickpea flour belong to different food groups, and it’s not that common to compare foods from different groups, people are often interested in these comparisons as well.

While chestnuts belong to the nuts and seeds group, chickpea flour belong to legumes food group.

That’s why we decided to create an in-depth article that compares chestnuts and chickpea flour, their nutritional values, similarities, differences, macronutrients, and micronutrients – vitamins and minerals.

Generally speaking, foods from nuts and seeds group are usually higher in healthy fats and lower in carbs than legumes, but both are valuable addition to a plant-based diet.

Now, let’s see how chestnuts and chickpea flour compare specifically.

Chestnuts

Chestnuts (Castanea spp.) are a nut native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

These nuts have a sweet and slightly starchy flavor and are often used in sweet and savory dishes.

Chestnuts are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

They are lower in fat and calories compared to many other nuts and are a good source of complex carbohydrates, making them a good choice for those watching their carbohydrate intake.

There are many ways to incorporate chestnuts into your diet. They can be eaten raw or roasted and are often peeled and cooked before use.

Chestnuts are often used in sweet dishes, such as chestnut puree or chestnut flour, and used to make chestnut bread or pastries.

They can also be used in savory dishes, such as chestnut stuffing or soup.

Chestnuts are available fresh or canned and are often sold peeled or unpeeled. It is important to store chestnuts in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them fresh, as they can become rancid quickly.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious nut to add to your diet, consider giving chestnuts a try.

They are versatile, flavorful, and can be easily incorporated into various dishes.

Chestnuts is an excellent source of Vitamin C.

It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate) and some Vitamin A, and Vitamin B3 (Niacin).

Chickpea Flour

Chickpea flour, also known as gram flour or besan, is a type of flour made from ground, dried chickpeas.

It is a popular ingredient in many vegan and vegetarian dishes due to its high protein and fiber content, as well as its nutty, slightly sweet flavor.

Chickpea flour is a good source of several important nutrients, including potassium, iron, and B vitamins.

It can be used in a variety of dishes, including breads, pancakes, and fritters, and is also a key ingredient in traditional dishes such as falafel and socca.

There’s also a pasta made of chickpea flour. Check out how chickpea pasta compares to a regular pasta.

In addition to being a nutritious food, chickpea flour has been shown to have a number of potential health benefits.

It is a good source of antioxidants, and has been linked to lower levels of cholesterol and improved blood sugar control.

Chickpea flour is also a good source of several important minerals, including iron, zinc, and magnesium.

Chickpea Flour is an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).

It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin E, and Vitamin K.

Chestnuts vs Chickpea Flour Nutrition

Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing chestnuts vs chickpea flour.

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of chestnuts and chickpea flour and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral content.

Chestnuts vs Chickpea Flour Calories

Comparing chestnuts vs chickpea flour for weight loss, chestnuts is slightly lower in calories, with 224 calories per 100 grams, compared to 387 calories per 100 grams of chickpea flour.

However, both chestnuts and chickpea flour can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight.

Chestnuts vs Chickpea Flour Protein

Legumes and most legume products, including chestnuts and chickpea flour, are important sources of plant-based protein.

Chickpea Flour offers around 81% more protein than chestnuts.

Chickpea Flour has 22.4 grams of protein per 100 grams, while chestnuts has 4.2 grams of protein per 100 grams.

Chestnuts vs Chickpea Flour Carbs

Counting carbs can be important for some people for different reasons, including blood sugar control, weight management, or athletic performance.

It’s also important for people on a keto diet, so let’s compare the carbs content in chestnuts and chickpea flour.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 15% higher in chickpea flour than in chestnuts. It have 57.8 grams per 100 grams, compared to 49.1 grams in chestnuts.

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There’s less sugar in chestnuts than in chickpea flour, 100% precisely.

One handful of chestnuts (28 grams) contains 0 grams of sugar, while the same amount of chickpea flour contains 3 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in chestnuts and chickpea flour.

Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.

With 3 grams of fiber per portion, chickpea flour is a better source of fiber than chestnuts which offers 0 grams per portion.

Chestnuts vs Chickpea Flour Fats

Fats in chestnuts and chickpea flour are mostly healthy unsaturated fats. They are naturally cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free.

Total fat in chestnuts and chickpea flour:

• Chestnuts: 1.1 grams per 100 grams
• Chickpea Flour: 6.7 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, chestnuts is 71% lower in saturated fats.

Chestnuts and chickpea flour contain 0.2 grams and 0.7 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Chestnuts vs Chickpea Flour Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of chestnuts and chickpea flour.

Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.

Chestnuts has a higher amount of vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), vitamin B9 (Folate), vitamin E, and vitamin K.

However, chickpea flour has a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B2 (Riboflavin).

Chestnuts and chickpea flour contain the same amount of vitamin D, and vitamin B12 (Cobalamin).

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins chestnuts and chickpea flour contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Chestnuts vs Chickpea Flour Minerals Content

Minerals are important for our body to function properly. We need only a small amount of minerals, so they are called micronutrients.

Some minerals, like iron, calcium, zinc or, iodine, are relatively hard to get on a plant-based diet, so it’s important to choose your foods thoughtfully. This part of the chestnuts and chickpea flour comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Chestnuts is a better source of calcium, copper, fluoride, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc than chickpea flour.

Chestnuts and chickpea flour contain the same amount of manganese.

Check out the table below to learn how chestnuts and chickpea flour compare when it comes to mineral content.

The Final Word

Chestnuts and chickpea flour are highly nutritious and a great addition to a plant-based diet.

Both chestnuts and chickpea flour are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.

Antioxidants found in nuts, seeds and legumes can help to protect cells from damage and may reduce the risk of certain diseases and the effects of aging.

Additionally, the fiber and other nutrients in these foods can support the health of the digestive system and may even help to prevent certain digestive cancers.

Legumes, nuts and seeds are a versatile food that can be incorporated into any meal of the day, including breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They can be served hot or cold, making them a convenient and tasty addition to a variety of dishes.