Beans-What is a Bean?

                                                                 

Detailed Contents: What is a Bean?-Bean History-Bean Recipes-Basic Baked Beans  -Quick Method-Quick Method No. 2-Canadian Style, Baked Beans with Pork-Soybeans Baked-Soybeans Boiled

Lima Bean-Green Beans and Mushrooms-Green Beans with Easy Hollandaise-Hot German Beans-String Beans-Beans Au Gratin

What is a Bean?

All of the world's beans originated in the Americas; but not in North America and definitely not in the United States. Beans belong to the family of plants called legumes. A legume is a plant that produces seeds in a pod (fruit) and may have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The physical shape of the seed helps distinguish beans from peas and lentils; which are also legumes. Usually beans are kidney shaped or oval, peas are round and lentils are flat disks. Most dry beans grown in this country belong to the species Phasecilus Vulgarism, or common bean.

Beans are one of the most nutritionally complete foods available. In fact no other food comes even close to beans in providing protein, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium and soluble fiber together in high amounts

Following are some of the reasons why beans are a key ingredient in a healthy diet of all ages.

·        High in complex carbohydrates.

·        High in protein.

·        High in dietary fibre

·        Low in fat

·        Low in sodium.

·        Cholesterol free (like all vegetables).

·        Rich in vitamins and minerals.

·        Beans are the only food that fits into two food groups; vegetables and protein.

·        A daily intake of two cups of cooked dry deans, when part of a low fat diet has shown to significantly reduce cholesterol levels in men, and to improve glucose control in diabetics.

·        Beans are also a natural source of foliate, which studies show can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer.