{"id":11858,"date":"2022-07-06T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-06T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/?p=11858"},"modified":"2024-11-12T16:20:24","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T00:20:24","slug":"benefits-of-beans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/blog\/benefits-of-beans\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Beans: Why They Deserve a Place in Your Diet"},"content":{"rendered":"

The life-enhancing benefits of beans are almost a forgotten secret in today\u2019s world. Often the butt of jokes (I couldn\u2019t resist) about musical fruits or even referred to crudely as \u201cpoor food<\/a>,\u201d beans are not always taken seriously. There are even those who attack beans because they contain certain plant compounds \u2014 such as lectins and phytates \u2014 that are allegedly bad for your health. Despite some of these purported shortcomings, studies tell us that beans could be among the healthiest foods on the planet. And the health benefits of beans are no laughing matter.<\/p>\n

From black beans to chickpeas and from cannellini to kidney, beans and other legumes (like lentils and split peas) provide an easy and affordable way to get many of the critical nutrients you need to thrive. Beans and other pulses have often served as a primary source of calories<\/a> and other nutrients for thousands of years \u2014 and across cultures. Including them in your diet is also a great way to help you cut down on animal protein and enjoy more plant-based protein<\/a> (they\u2019re full of it!).<\/p>\n

So what exactly makes beans so great? What are the healthiest types of beans? What about some of the downsides and controversies surrounding them? And what are some of the best ways to use beans in your daily meals?<\/p>\n

Types of Beans<\/h2>\n
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There are over 16,000 members of the bean family<\/a>, although only a small number of those are edible.<\/strong> And, in fact, only 16 (.1%) of those bean plants are regularly consumed on a global basis \u2014 at least, according to data<\/a> compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.<\/p>\n

Some of the most commonly known and eaten types of beans are actually all different varieties of the same species. The common bean<\/a> species (Phaseolus vulgaris) encompasses green beans, Anasazi beans, navy beans, black beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and cannellini beans.<\/p>\n

Other popular types of beans include:<\/p>\n