Bean Nutrition Facts

Interesting Bean Facts:

• Brazil, India and China are the biggest producers of dry bean. China, Indonesia and Turkey are the biggest producers of green bean.

• They are inexpensive and delicious, possibly the biggest bargain in the supermarkets, considering their health and longevity benefits.

• Beans contain 22 percent protein. Beef contains only 18 percent and eggs 13 percent protein.

• There are all kinds of beans available for different tastes unless you really dislike them.

• Chinese long beans may be up to 18 inches long.

• Newlyweds are given a bowl of beans for good luck in Nicaragua.

• Boiled beans mixed with zinc phosphide are used as a means of cheap rodenticide-rat poison in Aruba.

Bean Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits:

• Low GI value also means beans provide steady and slow-burning energy.

• They can also help increase your energy by replenishing your iron stores. Unlike red meat, beans are low in fat and calories.

• Beans have more fiber and protein than any other vegetable.

• A cup of beans provides almost half of the recommended daily intake for fiber.

• Thiamin- B vitamin in beans is critical for brain cell - cognitive function, skin health, nerves and digestive system.

• Potassium helps reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

• Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth.

• Weight loss: if you’d like to reduce your calorie “price” by 10%, add an extra 14 grams of fiber. This means that if you eat 2,000 calories per day, and add 28 grams of fiber to your meals, those calories will only “count” as 1600.

• Beans have 2-3% fat content: they raise your leptin-a protein hormone- levels and reduce appetite, while causing your metabolism to work harder and faster.

Bean Glycemic Index:

High GI simple sugar acts like a drug on the human system and many of us experienced that feeling of being sugar-high. Sugar is addictive, it is even compared to heroin by some scientists. High GI foods cause a spike in your blood glucose levels followed by a crash soon after, causing your appetite to return, making snacks irresistible.

Legumes- beans, lentils and peas are one of the lowest GI foods you can find.

*Here I'd like to tell you about a healthy diet program that uses a lot of the foods with low to medium glycemic index values: Isabel de los Rios' 'The Diet Solution Program'.

The Diet Solution Program favours a long term health orientated approach to fat loss, but not offering anyone a quick fix to their weight troubles. It has loads of valuable data and research to support its approach. I personally investigated the program thoroughly and my mum has been using it for a while now. I have to say she got some great results.

The nutrition plan is one of the healthiest we have seen, a strong core focus on vegetables, fruits, vitamin dense foods, lean proteins, select dairy produce and a clear approach to not expecting one diet to work for all body types. So give it a go and let me know how you went. 'The Diet Solution Program' is without a doubt one of the best diet programs out there.*

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