The Bean

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Posted by @Sharon on
If you could grow only one vegetable, one that would provide the most nutrition for you and your family, what would it be?

I think the most nutritious vegetable is the bean.  There are so many varieties of beans, too numerous to mention really, but each of them provides a tremendous amount of nutrition.  We are all very health conscious, so let's take a look at a simple vegetable that has been around much longer than we have; one that is often ignored. 

Here's what I know about beans:

* One half cup of beans provides 7 - 10 grams of protein; one ounce of beef provides only 7 grams.

* One half cup of cooked dry beans provides about 30 percent of the daily fiber requirement; in addition, it helps reduce cholesterol in the blood cells.

* Another plus comes along with the fiber content: It helps to control metabolism, which in turn helps with weight loss.

Wow!  What a veggie!  But wait!  There's more.

* Whether we like it or not, we have to have carbs.  Carbohydrates give us energy and help with brain function, so in one serving of beans, you'll find 25 grams of carbohydrates.  Remember, too, that the fiber in beans keeps your metabolism up and the carbs keep your energy level up, so you'll keep right on losing any extra weight you might have picked up over the holidays.

* And then there are the vitamins.  Beans are stuffed full of B vitamins.  The B vitamin complex is necessary for good health of the skin, hair, eyes, liver, and intestinal wall muscle and the breakdown of fats, carbs, and proteins.  Even cooked beans retain about 70% of their B vitamins.

* Minerals.  You guessed it, beans are filled with them:  iron, phosphate, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and a few others, all necessary for our good health.

* Beans contain polyunsaturated fat (the good kind) and no cholesterol, yay for beans!

* Calories:  Half a cup of beans contains about 100 calories, unless you douse it with bacon grease, then that's a whole different story that we won't talk about.

* Worried about gas?  Here's a tip:  Remove all the liquid from canned or soaked dried beans and replace it with water.  That will certainly help, but it also helps to add a heaping mound of leafy green veggies as a side dish.

That's about all I know about beans, except they are so easy to grow and you can find a variety that fits your garden as well as your lifestyle.  Just remember, when you eat your next bean, think of it as popping a protein pill. I think that's the best information I can give you!

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Great variety in one vegetable by coboro Jan 10, 2015 2:25 PM 1
Native American Beans by hazelnut Jan 19, 2014 5:37 PM 52
Dear To My Heart! by TBGDN Jan 19, 2014 4:23 PM 141
Growing beans is easy! by Newyorkrita Jan 19, 2014 12:00 PM 72
Beans use less water than beef! by CarolineScott Jan 19, 2014 10:58 AM 7
Carbs in beans. by Newyorkrita Jan 15, 2014 7:17 PM 1

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