According to many nutritionists, beans are one of the most
overlooked health foods in the world today. Long denounced by many for their
supposedly high carb, therefore high weight gain, potential, recent research
has actually found that beans in fact contain
complex forms of carbohydrates that actually do not contribute to weight
gain. Instead, these complex carbs help us by providing a steady supply of
stable energy to our muscles and brain.
Not only are beans not bad for you, they are chocked full of
nutrients that most other foods can only aspire to. They contain Vitamin B6,
folate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and alpha-linolenic acid, all important
body building blocks. Beans are also loaded with a ton of protein, which makes
them rare species indeed in the plant world. Protein is essential for our
bodies to function properly, the rub being that most foods that are high in
protein also happen to be bad for the heart. Beans, on the other hand, are not
only a right source of protein, they are also heart healthy.
Recent scientific studies have found that beans have the
potential to prevent many life threatening illnesses that are prevalent in
America at this time. They can help combat cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and
obesity. Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in our country today and
beans have been proven to help reduce the risk of this totally preventable
disease by as much as 22 percent. Beans are also great at curbing your hunger
and since they are a very efficient fuel that our bodies can burn off very
easily. This can help give us a boost of
energy and keep the pounds off.
Beans have also been found to be loaded with free radical
fighting antioxidants. Free Radicals are unstable compounds that can do a lot
of damage to the body including being a known cause for cancer and premature
aging. Antioxidants are nutrients which are known to be able to help cancel out
the negative effects of these free radicals.
Since beans are loaded with antioxidants, they have the potential to
fight cancer and make you feel younger and more energized.
Which beans are the best beans? Studies done at the world renowned Michigan
State University have found that beans that are termed as “dry” beans tend to
be the healthiest. While there is a strong similarity in the nutrient content
of most beans, researchers have found that kidney beans, lima beans, pinto
beans, and navy beans are the better beans to eat. How much beans should you
eat? Nutritionists recommend about three
cups of beans per week, but even including just a cup of beans per week into
your diet can help you feel healthier.
People’s state of health would be much better off if they
quit looking at beans as merely a source of carbs and gassy after effects and
instead acknowledged them for their high nutrient value. Eating beans can help people fight off many
off the illnesses that plague them and given the untold varieties of beans out
there, it should not be hard to find one that suits your taste.