Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you… Well, you know the rhyme. Their flatulent effect is the stuff of legend. But not many folks are as aware of how heart-healthy beans are. So I thought it high time to write a post on the benefits of beans for cardiovascular health. And anyone who knows me knows why this is a topic near and dear to my heart.
With the recent demonization of carbohydrates and great swathes of the populace adopting the ketogenic diet, it seems we may be forgetting that carbs are not all created equal. Yes, sugar, white rice, white flour, processed baked goods and their ilk should definitely be only occasional indulgences. But as I said in the post for my Winter Warm Up Menu, vegetables and fruits are carbs as well, and these are about the only foods undisputed by experts to be absolutely healthy for you.
So drastically reducing all carbs is akin to throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. I think the healthiest diet is a prudent, personalized mix of healthy carbs, protein and fats. Think of them as three legs of a stool – without one leg, there is no balance. And beans are undeniably in the healthy carb camp.
Surprisingly, when I advise my clients to add even a modicum of beans to their diet, I get more push-back than when I ask them to forgo their beloved crusty white baguettes. Pretty much everyone complains about flatulence. But here’s the thing. As well as providing heart-healthy antioxidant power and fibre, the nutrient profile of beans is chock-full of energy promoting B-vitamins. So beans really do help put the wind in your sails! As for that other wind, there is a lot we can do about that, so I invite you to read on.
Dishing It Up serves up a selection of stories, studies & so on from the world of wellness & nutrition each month.
As renowned UK foodie Nigel Slater says in the introduction to his new book,