“Research Has revealed that by eating legumes 2-3 times per week………”

This week we will be talking about the wonderful health benefits gained from eating BEANS (dried varieties), which are a member of the legume family. Westerner’s often overlook including beans in our diets, however they are such an excellent source of vegetable protein, fibre, iron, low in fat and contain phyto-chemicals, a cancer-fighting nutrient.

Different varieties of beans have been part of many Ancient Civilisations’ diets and it is thought that broad beans have been cultivated for around six thousand years. In Ancient Egypt beans were placed in the tombs of Pharaohs in readiness for the afterlife. Some of the bean varieties readily available in Australia are the kidney, pinto, broad, haricot/navy, black, adzuki, borlotti, lima and cannellini.

Their health benefits are many and may assist in the following:

• Lowering cholesterol
• Help prevent constipation and haemorrhoids
• Stabilises blood sugar
• Prevention against cancer
• Prevention again diabetes
• Prevention against Heart Disease
  

Research has revealed that by eating legumes around 2-3 times per week in place of red meat may help reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Beans are very inexpensive and can easily be incorporated into many different dishes such as salads and soups. Uncooked beans have a long shelf life, which means you can always have them in your pantry ready to use.

One side affect of eating legumes though is that they can cause flatulence. To reduce the amount of flatulence the beans produce, soak the beans in water overnight and then discard the liquid and refill with fresh water before cooking. If you are using a saucepan to cook your beans, changing the water a couple of times during the cooking process can also help with the “gas” issue. You can also use a slow cooker to cook your beans, but always carefully monitor throughout cooking as evaporation will occur and you will need to ensure the liquid level is kept topped up.

Try adding beans to your diet so you can benefit from the wonderful nutrients they provide.

Yours in health,

Dedicated to Improving Your Wellbeing and Committed To Helping You Achieve Abundance

From the Team at the Hervey Bay Wellbeing, Anti-Aging and Longevity Centre.

Yours in health,

Wayne Pickstone. B.T.C.M. N.D. D.M.H. Fellow AACMA. ATMS. ANPA. QAMT.