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Shelling Beans Contain A Treasure Chest Of Nutrition
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Health benefits are not well-known!
This humble bean is generally extremely underrated when it comes to its nutritional and mineral value. Many folks tend to forget that from the U.S. Civil War right through World War I and II, beans were an important part of soldiers’ rations.
In the later wars, they were mostly canned and sometimes mixed with pork or bully beef which provided some animal fat and extra protein. Medical personnel of the day had begun to realise that beans were nutritious and healthy, especially for soldiers in the field.
Most varieties of beans have similar health-promoting benefits, such as being high in certain minerals, important vitamins, antioxidants, contain no cholesterol, and are low in fats, which may help lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
The nutritional profile of beans
Here is a list of the nutrients offered by most varieties of shelling beans.
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- Beans are high in thiamine (vitamin B1) which is used to help metabolize food into energy – a very important function. Another compound known as folate (vitamin B9) is also present, which is vital for forming DNA, and is known to prevent certain kinds of birth defects.
- Vegetable proteins are prolific in beans. However, they are not complete proteins, which means they lack a certain amino acid that you need to get from meat, fish, chicken, or dairy. Note that for your body to benefit from protein intake, which is critical for building cells, muscles, and regulating body organs and tissues, both vegetable protein and protein from meat is necessary. The good thing is that shelling beans added to soups, stews, chicken, or just served with some grated cheese, give you the “complete protein” you need for optimal health.
- Dietary fiber. Shelling beans provide you with soluble fiber which keeps the colon working and helps combat cholesterol, is low in fat, lowers your risk of heart disease, and may keep obesity at bay.
- Shelling beans contain trace minerals essential for health, such as:
- Zinc which helps with wound healing.
- Manganese for forming healthy bones and processing cholesterol.
- Iron which is important for the formation of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.
- Potassium helps to counteract the effects of too much sodium in the blood which can lead to high blood pressure.
Magnesium which is essential for energy production and blood sugar control. - There are other minerals which are also obtainable from beans like copper and phosphorous which play a role in forming cell membranes and maintaining healthy DNA.
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