Hummus

plant-proteins

Hummus

5/ 10Mixed
Controversy: 6.7

Rated by 11 diets

4 approve2 caution5 avoid

How the diets react

Approves4
Caution2
Disapproves5
Is Hummus Healthy?

It depends — Hummus is a mixed bag. Some diets approve it while others urge caution. Context and quantity matter.

Nutrition Facts
Per 100g
Calories
166kcal
Protein
7.9g
Carbs
14g
Fat
9.6g
Fiber
6g
Sugar
0.5g
Sodium
379mg

Diet Ratings

KetoAvoid

Hummus is chickpea-based with approximately 6-8g net carbs per 3 tbsp serving. Chickpeas are legumes with significant carb load, incompatible with strict keto.

VeganApproved

Plant-based blend of chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic. Whole-food ingredients. No animal products.

PaleoAvoid

Hummus is made from chickpeas (legumes) and tahini (sesame seed oil). Both primary ingredients violate paleo principles.

MediterraneanApproved

Hummus is a traditional Mediterranean staple made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic. It combines legumes with healthy fats and is minimally processed when homemade.

CarnivoreAvoid

Chickpea-based legume product with plant oils. Multiple plant-derived ingredients make it incompatible with carnivore diet.

Whole30Avoid

Hummus is made from chickpeas, which are legumes and explicitly excluded from Whole30.

Low-FODMAPAvoid

Hummus is made from chickpeas (high GOS) and typically contains garlic and onion (high fructans). Monash University rates hummus as high-FODMAP at all reasonable serving sizes.

DASHApproved

Excellent DASH food combining chickpeas, tahini, and olive oil. Rich in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and plant-based protein. Low-sodium varieties available. Supports cardiovascular health.

ZoneCaution

Chickpea-based with tahini (sesame). 1/4 cup provides ~4g protein, ~5g fat, ~8g carbs. Moderate glycemic impact. Usable but requires careful portioning; often contains added oils increasing fat content unpredictably.

Hummus combines chickpeas (legume with polyphenols and fiber), tahini (sesame seeds with lignans), garlic (anti-inflammatory), and extra virgin olive oil (omega-3 and polyphenols). Excellent anti-inflammatory profile when made with quality ingredients.

Moderate protein (3g per 2 tbsp), good fiber from chickpeas, but fat content from tahini and olive oil (5g per 2 tbsp) can trigger GI discomfort. Works best as a small condiment or dip rather than a primary protein source.

Debated

Some GLP-1 nutrition guidance treats hummus as acceptable in small portions due to its fiber and plant-based protein, while others recommend limiting it because the fat-to-protein ratio is suboptimal for GLP-1 patients and the caloric density doesn't align with reduced appetite.

Controversy Index

Score range: 18/10. Higher controversy = more disagreement between diets.

Consensus6.7Divisive

Diet-Specific Tips for Hummus

Vegan 8/10
  • Whole food ingredients
  • Legume-based
  • Healthy fats from tahini
  • Minimal processing
Mediterranean 8/10
  • Traditional Mediterranean food
  • Chickpea-based legume
  • Contains tahini (sesame seed paste)
  • Minimal processing in traditional preparation
DASH 8/10
  • High fiber
  • Rich in potassium
  • Healthy monounsaturated fats
  • Sodium varies by brand
Zone 5/10
  • moderate carb load from legumes
  • variable fat content (tahini/oil dependent)
  • modest protein contribution
  • processed food
  • portion variability
  • Chickpea base with polyphenols
  • Tahini provides lignans
  • Garlic content
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • High fiber
  • Plant-based protein
  • moderate protein
  • good fiber
  • moderate fat
  • calorie-dense
  • portion-dependent
Is Hummus Healthy? Diet Ratings & Controversy Score | FoodRef.ai