5 Reasons to Eat Kidney Beans

Kidney beans! Photo: Morguefile

They're a staple in chili, the colorful part of a three-bean salad and loved by vegetarians everywhere. Kidney beans!

But, why should you starting eating more of them? Well, here's five good reasons!

1. Kidney beans are high in fiber, which  means they can prevent blood sugar levels from spiking too quickly after a meal. This is important for diabetics and those with hypoglycemia.
2. Mix kidney beans with rice to create a complete protein. This is important if you're a vegetarian or eating a meatless meal.
3. Kidney beans contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. This means they keep you regular and help clear cholesterol out of your system. Kidney beans can lessen the symptoms of irritable bowl syndrome.
4. Kidney beans are rich in magnesium and folate, which are important for heart health.
5. Kidney beans are fat-free and low in calories. So, eat up!

Source: The World's Healthiest Foods

I enjoy using seasoned kidney beans in lieu of ground beef when making tacos or chili! When do you eat kidney beans?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

###

Bean, Beans The Musical Fruit...Wait, Fruit?

Dry kidney beans. Photo from Morguefile.

OK, sing along with me:

"Beans, beans the musical fruit!
The more you eat, the more you...."

We all know the rest of the rhyme. (And, I'm not interested in blogging about flatulence!)

However, I am curious about the claim that beans are members of the fruit family. Really? So, I put on my investigative reporter hat and found this little nugget of nutrition trivia.

Beans are members of the legume family. Other legumes include lentils, peanuts, peas and soybeans, according to The Bean Institute. The most popular bean consumed in the United States is the pinto bean.

My top five favorites ways to eat beans are:

• Boiling and mashing black beans with the juice of a fresh lime and chopped garlic to use on tacos
• Tossing several beans together and dressing it with a light Italian dressing for a summer salad
• Adding pinto beans to a pot of vegetable soup for extra protein
• Mashing garbanzo beans and using them in lieu of ground beef to make a veggie "meatloaf"
• Combining kidney, pinto and white beans as the base for a vegetarian chili

So, how do you like to eat beans?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

###