Boost Your Beans

Legumes include all fresh and dried beans, peas, lentils and peanuts. They are a high protein food that can easily be used to replace some or all of the meat in your diet. Legumes are also rich in disease fighting nutrients; and research has shown that they are more strongly linked with longevity than any other food group

Why Eat More?

Newly published research in the Archives of Internal Medicine confirms that, for controlling diabetes, beans are an even better source of carbohydrates than wholegrains. So if you’re trying to lose weight, beans are the ideal protein, because they lower insulin resistance. And, unlike red meat, rather than increasing the risk of heart disease, they actively work to lower it.

Beans also have significant fibre and resistant starch, and their phytonutrient contents are thought to contribute to their anti-cancer properties. A research project called the “Adventist Health Study-2” found that eating legumes at least three times a week and brown rice once a week reduces the risk of colon polyps—the precursors of colon cancer.

Finally, making beans a regular part of your weekly menu has been shown to reduce inflammatory markers in the body and lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Suggestions For Preparing Beans