Broad beans in brief, Summary on the properties of beans

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Broad beans: anciently	Role as a protagonist as the food of the poor par excellence, given their low cost and easy availability
Broad beans: origin	The broad bean plant is native to Asia Minor
Broad beans: reason for cultivation	For centuries the broad bean plant has been widely cultivated for human and animal nutrition (forage)
Fave: botanical analysis	Botanical name: Vicia faba L. or F aba vulgaris Family: Fabaceae Description: annual herbaceous plant, able to reach 70-140 centimeters in height Stem: erect and thick, with a quadrangular section and very branched at the base Root: fittonante Growth: attributable to that of a giant green bean, with a fleshy and cylindrical pod Pod: average length of about 20 cm. Contains seeds Seeds: yellowish-brownish, flat, oval, broad and fleshy Leaves: pinnate-compound and stipulate, consisting of small groups of 2-6 smaller leaflets
Broad beans: broad beans and field beans	Favetta: very particular variety of fava beans, in which a single pod can weigh 700-1, 000 grams Favino: very impressive variety of beans: a pod can also contain 1, 000 seeds and weigh 700 grams Both are used for animal feed
Broad beans: food uses	Cooked broad beans: steam or water cooking → purée to accompany bitter vegetables Dried broad beans without tegument: do not require soaking before cooking Dried beans with integument: they take a few hours to soak before cooking Fresh broad beans: used together with bread, cheese and salami Canned beans: ready for consumption Frozen broad beans: more practical than dry ones
Broad beans: nutrients and properties	84%: water 5% protein 5% of fibers 4.5% carbohydrates very little fat (0.4%) Minerals: potassium, magnesium, copper, selenium and above all iron → fights anemia Vitamins: especially vit. TO
Broad beans and related problems	Potential enemies of the immune system → consumption of broad beans can trigger an allergic reaction → possible coma Do not consume fava beans together with MAOIs → possible reaction that can cause hypotensive crises of varying degrees, sometimes deadly Broad bean consumption in susceptible and susceptible individuals → acute haemolysis with jaundice (favism)
Broad beans and levodopa	Fave as a potential source of levodopa → new "miracle drug" for the treatment of Parkinson's? Some patients with Parkinson's have achieved excellent results after taking regular fava beans; vice versa, for others, the effect appeared almost in vain → the consumption of broad beans as a natural therapy for Parkinson's disease still remains an unknown quantity