Some people call beans fruits, some people call beans vegetables. This can still be up for debate but nutritionists all agree that beans are probably the healthiest food you can add to your diet. They contain a huge amount of health benefits and are easy to prepare.
Beans contain a huge amount of fiber which is fantastic for your body because it keeps your digestive system running smoothly. Protein is also abundant in beans, which is vital to repairing tissues in the body. They also contain a large variety of vitamins such as Vitamins A, B, C as well as calcium, iron, folic acid, and potassium. All fantastic vitamins and minerals to keep your body and skin healthy.
Probably the most exciting news I learned about beans is that they contain a great deal of antioxidants which protect the body from free radicals and help to prevent aging! Antioxidants are also important to your health as they prevent some cancers. Research has recently shown that beans can reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
Now that you realize that adding beans to your diet is important, you are probably wondering what kind to choose. They are all fantastic so it basically comes down to your personal preference: black, kidney, navy, pinto, or lima. They each have a bit of a different taste so you can choose what kind you like. If you don’t want to eat them on their own or as a side dish, they are excellent added to stews, and of course – chili! Combine the types of beans you add to get a great variety in flavors.
Dried beans generally are the best choice as the canned types usually come in syrup that contains lots of salt. Cooking dried beans is fairly easy but if you don’t have the time or means to cook beans – simply rinse the beans that come in a can to remove most of the salt.