We naturally benefit from beans when we include it in our diets. Beans are cheaper. It is tasty. You can prepare it easily. They are an important source of protein. Beans are high in fiber but low in fat. Beans are rich in complex carbohydrates. Many micronutrients are available in beans. It plays a key role in fighting against cancer. Beans are very beneficial to people who are suffering with diabetes. It can also bring down the cholesterol level.
If you are a heart patient you can benefit from beans by consuming it. Beans contain soluble fiber. When this fiber crosses through the GI tract, it traps the bile containing cholesterol. It removes this cholesterol from the body and prevents its absorption into the body. Your benefits from beans increase if you take a cup of beans cooked properly every day. This can reduce your total cholesterol in six weeks. Up to 10% of the total cholesterol can be reduced by using beans in this manner. Beans actually decrease the risk of heart problems up to 20%. A study was conducted on this at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. The results of this study have shown that an increased bean intake for three weeks lowered the cholesterol in men by 19% on an average. The intake contained ¾ cup of pinto and navy beans. The risk of heart attack is decreased by 40% through this increased intake of beans. As beans contain high fiber, they are also capable of curbing your appetite for fattier foods. This way beans prevent weight gain too.
Benefits from beans do not stop with lowering the cholesterol. Diabetic patients can also benefit from beans largely. By eating beans, diabetic patients can ingest soluble fiber into their digestive tract. This soluble fiber enables creating more insulin receptor cells. These receptor sites act as minute docks for the insulin molecules. These sites allow the insulin to the cells. Therefore, the insulin molecules are thus prevented from floating in the blood stream freely. These free molecules of insulin in the blood can be problematic. Diabetic patients have high risk of heart ailments. Here is how the role of beans is felt important. As beans can keep the cholesterol level low, they reduce the risk of heart diseases in diabetic patients, besides playing a key role in utilization of insulin in them.
Beans can provide other benefits too. They can prevent cancer by inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells. Beans contain the compounds known as isoflavins, lagnins, phytic acid, saponin, and protease inhibitors. They prevent normal cells becoming cancerous. It is believed that phytoestrogens available in soybean can reduce the risk of prostate cancer and breast cancer. Hypothetically, the working mechanism of phytoestrogens involves blocking the estrogen and testosterone which can trigger malignant tumor growth when they are overactive. Hispanic women include much of beans in their diet, and it has been observed that they have only half the risk of breast cancer when compared to white women.
The dietary requirements provided by beans include 32%DV of folate, 9%DV of potassium, good amount of protein and fiber. You can also use dried or canned beans to derive the above benefits, but canned beans have high levels of sodium.