This poor man's meal is one our favourite food staples! One cup is packed with proteins (15g nearly one third of Daily Value) and fibre (15g over half of Daily Value). This incredible combination contributes to the great health benefits of beans (besides helping to trim your waistline).
Benefits:
If you are still not sure because of flatulence, think again. Soaking the beans overnight not only helps with the cooking time; rinsing the water after will eliminate the sugars that are associated with causing flatulence. The loss of nutrients due to rinsing is insignificant. So get your favourite beans and start cooking. Need inspiration? Click here for our yummy black bean recipe.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/beans-protein-rich-superfoods
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=2
- Digestion: beans are digested slowly, which keeps you satisfied longer (hello fibre!). Further to that they are low on sugar avoiding insulin to spike and causing hunger. Eating beans will help you lose weight!
- Vegetarian diet: vegetarians can get all their much needed protein and vitamin B from beans. Beans have the same amount of calories as meat/chicken and fish. However vegetarians are not getting the saturated fat found in meat.
- Cardiovascular health: rich in soluble fibre, it helps keep cholesterol levels low which prevents coronary heart diseases and heart attack.
- Cancer prevention: at least 8 different flavonoids with antioxidant potential and are high on phytochemicals (biological active constituents in food), which are scientifically proven to suppress cancer development and carcinogen's growth, slow aging process and improve brain function among others.
- Pregnancy: folate or vitamin B6 and iron are abundant in beans which is particularly beneficial for pregnant women. the nervous system of the growing baby needs folate to produce the amino acids it needs to function.
If you are still not sure because of flatulence, think again. Soaking the beans overnight not only helps with the cooking time; rinsing the water after will eliminate the sugars that are associated with causing flatulence. The loss of nutrients due to rinsing is insignificant. So get your favourite beans and start cooking. Need inspiration? Click here for our yummy black bean recipe.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/beans-protein-rich-superfoods
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=2