Chickpeas - The earliest known use dates to 3500 BC in Turkey and 6970 BC in France. Today they're grown in more than 50 countries. Some possible benefits of chickpeas include helping control blood sugar, manage weight, and support heart and gut health.2 Chickpeas are naturally gluten-free and not a common allergen, so they do not carry many risks. Still, slowly adding high-fiber foods like chickpeas to your diet is key to avoiding bloating and other gastrointestinal (GI) upset.