The dry bean is an amazing and inexpensive food source. Costing just pennies per serving, beans are the only food listed in the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans which counts as both a vegetable and a protein.
An ever growing body of research suggests that beans promote good health and may even reduce the risk of several diseases.
Studies show that beans:
- Increase both soluble and insoluble fiber in the diet
- May reduce the risk of cancer
- Aide in weight loss and maintenance
- May improve blood vessel function and cardiac health
- Contain many key nutrients necessary for optimum health including folate, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and iron
- May protect against the development of type 2 diabetes
- Are cholesterol and fat free
- May increase general health and longevity
- And much more
As an added bonus dried beans have a long storage life.
But what about…flatulence? Many people avoid eating beans due to the fear of gas and bloating. The same bean properties that cause gas, also provide some of beans’ benefits – including stimulating healthy gut flora. Research has shown that people who experienced gas and bloating after introducing beans to their diets, no longer had the problem after two to four weeks of regular bean consumption.
To learn more about the benefits of beans, including cooking instructions and delicious recipes, please visit the US Dry bean Council or the California Dry Bean Board.
