The Magical Power of Beans

Healthy beans are truly nature's magicians. They are legumes that help your body function properly. Healthy legumes include, black beans, garbanzo beans, edamame, pinto beans, kidney beans, lentils, and peas. As summer draws to a close, it will be time to pull out the slow cooker and eat more beans. Here are some of the reasons beans are so healthy and why I like to serve them to my family.

• Beans are full of satiating fiber and protein. Just a mere ½ cup of black beans contains 7 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber. This fiber helps stabilize blood sugar.
• Beans enhance gut health, especially black beans, by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria.
• Beans contain antioxidants that help protect cell damage thereby fighting disease and aging.
• The nutrients in beans may help reduce cholesterol.
• Beans contain folate which is important in red blood cell formation and for healthy cell growth and function.
• Beans contain iron.
• Beans are considered a Superfood because they can help prevent diabetes, heart disease and maybe even some cancers.
• Beans are inexpensive and easy to prepare.

There are many ways we eat beans at home. As a side, I open a can of no sodium added black beans or chickpeas and add ½ cup to my salad in place of chicken. Then I freeze the remaining portions for a salad another day. I also love ½ cup of edamame on a salad.

For supper, I sometimes prepare this month’s recipe, One-Pot Beans & Rice With Corn and Salsa for an easy, delicious bean dinner, (here's the link: https://lisaprincenutritionspecialist.com/healthy-recipes). Other times I'll make Marguerite’s Brilliant Black Bean Burgers or Mexican Soup. If you have printed my recipes from the past then you also have easy recipes for Black Bean quesadillas and Black Bean Soup. Let me know if you need me to e-mail these recipes to you.

It is healthful to eat a ½ cup to 1 cup of beans daily but even just a few times a week is beneficial. So, turn on that stove, warm up that slow-cooker, and let’s start eating more beans. Your body will thank you. Please be sure to let me know what bean recipes you try or send me your favorite bean recipe so I can try something new and share it with my followers!

Yours in health, Lisa