They’re musical, they’re magical, and they’re good for your heart.
Beans, beans, the musical fruit, the more you eat… the more fiber and protein you get in your diet. What? Were you expecting me to say something else?
Beans have been a staple food since ancient times, manifesting in all sorts of interesting ways around the world. Cowboys would eat beans from cans around the campfire, eastern countries eat fermented soybeans with rice, and some culinary genius turned the humble garbanzo bean into the wondrous spread known as hummus. You should endeavor to eat more beans on a regular basis, because they can bring a whole galaxy of nutrients to your body, as well as pleasant flavors.
Probably the most well-known benefit to beans is their protein. A cup of beans will usually net you around 15 grams of clean, plant-based protein. If you’re trying to go vegetarian, beans are a great place to start, as their meaty texture can help tide you over from animal-based proteins.
As that classic tune goes, beans are also great for your heart thanks to their surplus of antioxidants. Red kidney beans actually pack more antioxidants per serving than things like peppers or fruits. A can of organic beans will get your blood pumping nice and clean.
Beans are also high in fiber, which you can never have enough of. A cup of azuki beans boasts a whopping 17 grams of fiber. Extra fiber also helps you feel fuller, so peppering your meals with beans can help you cut down on your caloric intake.
So what kind of beans are the best to eat? Any, really. Kidney, lima, azuki, soy, black, pinto; really, the only kind of bean that won’t give you some kind of health benefit is jellybeans, but you probably didn’t need me to tell you that. Just be sure to start slowly if you want to incorporate more beans into your diet. A lot of legumes can be a little difficult for the body to process, so too many beans at once may make you feel a bit bloated. You can mitigate that by cooking beans with probiotic spices like ginger and turmeric.
Prepared correctly, a regular serving of beans will have your body chugging like a well-oiled machine. Oh, hey, look at that; I managed to go the whole article without mentioning farts. Oh, wait… darn it.
