Yes. Beans are technically considered a dried fruit. Beans have come a long way since being know merely as “cowboy-food”. Beans have been a staple in human diets for centuries, but until recently not much credit was ever given to this humble legume. Recent studies have put the bean high on the charts of heart-healthy, antioxidant rich, good-for-you foods. Rich in fiber, protein and the ever popular antioxidants, there is no doubt about the amazing health benefits the bean has to offer.
What is so great about beans? Well, first of all there is the antioxidant health counterpart. Beans, especially those with darker skins have been rated as some of the top antioxidant foods out there. Even topping the “antioxidant superstars” like the blueberry and the cranberry. Antioxidant foods are thought to fight off heart disease and even cancer.
In addition to their high antioxidant levels, healthy beans contain around 13 grams of fiber per cup which is over half the recommended daily amount. Fiber helps regulate the digestive track, lower blood sugar levels and help with weight loss as it helps keep you full and curbs your appetite. If that wasn’t enough to sell you on adding more beans to your diet, healthy beans have absolutely no saturated fat and are a great source of calcium, potassium and magnesium.
So, we know that adding beans to our diets is certainly a wise and healthy choice, but which beans are thought to be the most healthy? Are there some that stand out that we should pay special attention to?
Black beans are an excellent source of fiber, which has been shown to lower cholesterol. Fiber has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels after a meal, making these beans a great choice for diabetics.
Black beans are also rich in cancer fighting antioxidants and even beat out the cranberry, blueberry and grape in the amount of antioxidants it contains.
Researchers have found that the darker the bean’s skin, the higher the antioxidant levels-hence the reason the black bean comes out on top as the most healthy bean.
The red kidney bean is the next bean in the legume family that has proven to be one of the best for your health. Like other beans it is packed with fiber and protein which help with digestion among other things. Its dark skin also contributes to its high antioxidant levels. Kidney beans have also been shown to be an excellent source of iron which can increase your energy levels.
Pinto beans are next on the list of the healthiest beans. Pinto beans are distinguished by their pink or white skin dotted with splashes of color. These beans are rich in antioxidants, fiber, protein, magnesium, potassium, folate, vitamin B1, iron, phosphorous and copper.
Although the red kidney bean, black bean and pinto bean are some of the highest ranking beans in regards to your health, any bean really is packed full of life-saving antioxidants, fiber, protein and a slew of other nutrients.
Lentils, lima beans, navy beans and garbanzo beans are also excellent choices for adding a variety of healthy beans to your diet.
