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You wrote: > >Hi everybody. > >Are "Italian broad beans" also called fava beans? Someone once >recommended them to us as well. Hmmm...any bean experts out there? > >J. > >On Wed, 30 Nov 1994, Ronald F. Vetter wrote: > >> I do not have the reference but read that Italian broad beans have several >> hundred milligrams of l-dopa per serving. >> Does there exist information on foods containing l-dopa? >> Perhaps a university research project could investigate this inexpensive >> source of l-dopa in the beans specifically cited - and other foods. >> Perhaps a grant could be obtained from the Deparartment of Agriculture. >> Does anyone have info relevant to this? >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------- >> Ronald F. Vetter <[log in to unmask]> >> 2105 Camino el Canon >> Ridgecrest, CA 93556-7656 >> 619/375-7364 >> ---------------------------------------------------------------- >> > > Fava beans can be dangerous. There is a small number of the population which lacks an essential enzyme for metabolizing fava beans, and a severe reaction, occasionally fatal, can result in those persons when they consume fava beans. The condition is called "favism" and is also associated with a severe anemia (low blood count). I don't know if the "bread beans" mentioned in the post *are* actually fava beans, but if they are, be careful! Best, Bob -- ******************************************************** Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S. Phone: 510-849-2555 Neurological Surgery FAX: 510-849-2557 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, California 94704-2636 USA E-Mail: [log in to unmask] CompuServe: 72303,3442 America Online: BobFink "Ex Tristitia Virtus" ********************************************************