Start your holiday festivities early by celebrating National Eat Your Beans Day on July 3! Beans, an often-overlooked nutritional powerhouse, have benefits that extend to your general wellness, waistline and wallet. Here are five reasons to let more legumes into your life:
1. Disease prevention: Beans are low in fat and cholesterol free, which promotes heart health and prevents disease. Also, research shows that antioxidants found in beans might reduce the risk of five different cancers.
2. Weight loss: Packed with fiber and protein, beans keep you feeling fuller longer by metabolizing slower than other carbohydrates. This gives you a steady supply of energy and helps keep you from over-indulging.
3. Nutrient rich: Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals? Most people in the US do not meet the daily-recommended servings for vitamins and minerals. Eating beans provides vitamins and minerals such as folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium and zinc, which will get you closer to meeting these recommendations.
4. Budget-friendly: Beans are one of the most cost-efficient foods in our kitchen, and there are plenty of options to choose from, including black beans, pinto beans, red beans and lentils. You can stock up on your favorites without breaking the bank. Most canned beans cost less than a dollar and can be found in any supermarket.
5. Versatile: Beans come in canned, frozen and dry forms, which makes them easy to buy, store and cook. From casseroles to soups, beans can be incorporated into any recipe for any occasion.
Check out these bean-centric recipes, perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner:
