Why you Need to eat more beans!

Beans, beans the musical fruit the more you eat, the more you..well you know.

Beans are definitely a magical fruit. They are packed with protein, vital nutrients, fiber, and low-glycemic carbs! it's a wonder no one has labeled them a super food yet! Even though "super food" really doesn't mean much.

If you are a vegan or vegetarian beans should have already found their place as a staple in your diet. But even if you're an omnivore they should definitely be a staple in yours too!

1. We've been cultivating them for thousands of years

Cultivating legumes has been around since the neolithic times (over 7000 years B.C.) Legumes and grains were also the main foods that gladiators ate to be strong and fat enough for battle. They are staples in every culture around the globe.

 Unlike the "paleo" diet of the neanderthals, legumes have been around since the dawn of our actual homo sapien ancestors (and for all we know neanderthals have been eating legumes and grains too, they just didn't farm them).

 Cultivating grains and beans literally brought us from babbling in caves to building the towers of Babylon. They definitely deserve there place in our diets.

2. They're the cheapest protein around

One pound of dry black beans costs $1.29, and has as much as 96 grams of protein per lb. That's $0.01 per gram of protein. Compare that to $13.99 a lb for beef rib eye steak (108 grams of protein), or $9.99 a lb for Atlantic Salmon (92 grams of protein), or $3.79 a lb for Chicken breast (139 grams of protein). 

Protein from beans costs anywhere from 10%-30% the price of protein from meat. They also have an extremely long shelf life and don't need to be refrigerated. No wonder it's so popular among third world countries.

No bean besides soy beans make a complete protein, but often times beans combined with other beans, grains, or nuts make a complete protein!

So if you're struggling to pay for groceries buy beans, not ramen.

3. They are SO healthy!

Beans are packed with soluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol and improve heart health!

Beans contain almost as much protein as steak without all the calories and fat, so they help you lose weight and stay healthy.

Beans contain a lot of complex carbs, which is why they make can make you gassy, but that also means they are slow digesting and don't cause blood sugar spikes, which means they're low glycemic carbs. They also keep you fuller longer and curb fatigue.

Beans are full of fiber so they help keep you regular and prevent constipation!

Asides from all the good protein, fiber, and complex carbs they are packed with other 

nutrients including antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals, such as copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium and zinc.

Although beans can make you gassy and bloated you can easily adjust your body to beans by eating at least on bean dish a week and then increasing it from there. Not all means make you toot, like lentils and soy beans.

4. No matter what you are craving, beans are there to satisfy!

Beans can be so versatile, They can be made into countless soups, salads, dips, burgers, snacks, breads, chips, milks, curds, even deserts! They come in so many varieties like lima beans, soy beans, edamame, chick peas, lentils, kidney, fava, black eye'd peas, the list goes on and on so there is no excuse not to include them in your diets.

 Want to start eating more beans? Check out my recipes!