We often hear about unhealthy foods that we should avoid, such as fast food, processed products and soft drinks. But what about some of the healthy foods to include in your diet on a daily basis?
For example, Some of the healthiest foods you can include in your diet are beans. They are a staple food in many of the world’s healthiest regions and are consumed daily by healthier people. They have been found to help people control their weight, fight inflammation, and reduce the risk of certain diseases.
Read on to learn more about the health benefits of eating beans and for more healthy eating tips, check out Dietary secrets of the oldest people in the world.
Why should you eat beans?
Dan Buettner developed the Blue Zone Diet after studying the regions of the world where people live longer and healthier lives. These regions have extremely low disease rates and the highest concentrations of centenarians, or people who live to be 100 years old. There are many dietary similarities between the regions that researchers have discovered, including regular consumption of beans and legumes.
the beans are high in protein, antioxidants, fiber and folic acid. A recent report published in nutrients found that after a plant based diet including beans regularly can help your cardiovascular healthreduce inflammation, help control body weight, and help improve your gut microbiome.
According to another report from the American Diabetes AssociationIncluding more beans in your diet, as well as plenty of fruits and vegetables, can help lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Possible Side Effects
There are no real dangers of eating beans, but there are some potential side effects you may want to be aware of. For one thing, you’ll want to be careful about choosing canned over dried beans because canned beans often come with added sodium. Instead, try soaking dry beans in water and then cook them on a stovetop so you can add your own salt and spices.
Beans are also known to cause mild gas and bloating in some people, which can be very uncomfortable. Experts recommend relaxing in your bean consumption if you are not used to eating them and slowly integrate them into your diet instead of jumping right in.
Food to go
Beans are one of the healthier food you can eat for your heart, your weight management, your gut microbiome, and your overall health. If you’re not used to eating them, start slowly integrating them into your diet to give your gut some time to adjust. If you need inspiration on how to prepare them, here are some useful recipes.
