Lead: Effect and Role of vicia faba The vicia faba, also known as the broad bean, fava bean, faba bean, field bean, bell bean or tic bean, is an annual or biennial herb. It is the food, vegetable, feed and green manure crop. It is originated in Southwest Asia and North Africa. According to legend, it was introduced into China by Zhang Qian from the Western Regions. The vicia faba contains 8 essential amino acids, With a carbohydrate content of 47% to 60%. Rich in the nutritive value, it not only is edible, but can be used to make sauce, soy sauce, dry vermicelli, sheet jelly and vegetable. Also, it can be planted as a feed, green manure and nectariferous plant.

    Effect and Role of vicia faba: 

　　1. Brain Fitness

　　If you toil and moil or you are a mental worker, eating the vicia faba may help be brain healthy to some extent. The vicia faba contains important components such as calcium, zinc, manganese and phospholipid which can adjust a cerebrum and nerve tissue, and it also contains abundant gallstone alkali which has a brain efect of improving one’s memory. [3]

　　2. Lowering cholesterol

　　The crude fiber in the broad skin has an effect of lowering cholesterol and promote alvine peristalsis.

　　3. Preventing cardiovascular disease

　　The vicia faba is abundant in protein without cholesterol, which can improve the food nutrition value and prevent cardiovascular disease. 

　　4. Replenishing vital energy

　　Traditional medicine thinks that the vicia faba can replenish vital energy, induce dieresis and reduce edema.

　　5. Retarding the atherosclerosis

　　Vitamin C in the vicia faba can retard the atherosclerosis.

　　6. Promoting bone growth

　　Calcium in the vicia faba helps to promote the absorption of calcium and calcification in bones and promote the bone growth. 

　　7. Anti-cancer

　　The vicia faba is also one of the anti-cancer foods, having certain effect in preventing bowel cancer.