But, you may still be shying away from this health superstar.
Lets explore what beans can do for your health and some fabulous ways to enjoy them.
What Are Beans?
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Beans are theedible seedsof plants cultivated for about 6,000 years.
The serving size for all varieties of beans is one-half cup of cooked beans.
This includes canned beans, which are already cooked and ready to be used in recipes.
[All nutrition information below is from the USDA Nutrient Database.]
Health Benefits of Beans
Not only are beans nutritious, but they also offer many benefits.
Here are some ways your health and well-being may be impacted by eating beans.
As agood source of proteinand fiber, beans are a satisfying food that is fairly low in calories.
It also helps stop you from reaching for that high-sugar snack soon after a meal.
Additionally, beans increase the bodys production ofcholecystokinin, a gut hormone that suppresses appetite by slowing gastric emptying.
As an excellent source ofprebioticfiberthe fuel that helps probiotics flourishbeans help improve overall gut health.
May Prevent Cancer
Diet has been linked to certain cancers, most notably, colon cancer.
Provide Antioxidants
You have likely read about the benefits of getting more antioxidants in your diet.
It also can speed up the aging process.
However, antioxidants can help repair our DNA, thus helping to prevent disease and aging.
Plus, they are inexpensive.
Certain compounds in beans can block you from absorbing the nutrients in this otherwise healthy food.
Cording explains that properly cooking dry beans can eliminate both of these issues.
Try soaking dry beans in water before cooking and using a pressure cooker to cook them.
If you cant find those options, rinse regular canned beans before using them.
There are thousands of ways to enjoy the benefits of beans.
Get creative and eat up!
