20 Bean Facts: National Bean Day And Other Information
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Beans are a type of large seeds of a group of plants.
Beans are also known as beans, lentils, legumes, and pulses. About 40,000 different kinds of beans can be found worldwide.
However, most edible species of beans produce low numbers of mature seeds or the ones with good eating quality. The limited number of edible beans are extremely good for health and easily available. Keep reading to learn more helpful facts about beans.
Types Of Beans
About 40,000 varieties of beans can be found around the world. However, the beans, lentils, legumes, or pulses we usually eat are only a fraction of them.
Some of the most famous beans that we eat as a part of our regular lives are green beans, fava beans, red beans, kidney beans, lima beans, mung beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, soybeans, peas, and more.
Some of them can be eaten raw; some cannot be eaten raw, while some, like lima beans, should not be eaten raw at all.
Most of the time, lima beans are frozen, canned, or dried because raw ones contain linamarin or cyanogen. This releases a type of cyanide compound once someone opens the seed coat.
Some types of beans that can be eaten raw are peas, chickpeas, soybeans, and more. However, soak them in water for some time before you eat them.
Most types of beans should be eaten after frying, steaming, baking, or boiling them. This is mainly because they contain some kinds of toxic substances that don't cause harm once they are cooked.
Some examples are the previously mentioned lima beans and red kidney beans because they contain the protein lectin. Green beans also have high levels of the protein lectin and more. These beans should be soaked and then cooked for at least 5-30 minutes, depending on the type of bean you're cooking.
The Benefits Of Beans
Beans, or legumes, are a rich source of minerals, like manganese and iron, vitamins K, B, or C, dietary fibers, carbohydrates, proteins, and more. They provide many health benefits.
Appetite control: The healthy starches and fiber in beans can give you a feeling of fullness. This can help you when you're dieting.
Prevent diabetes: Beans being high in fiber helps with lowering blood glucose levels, which in turn helps prevent diabetes.
Healthy heart: Beans are high in fiber and low in cholesterol, and this leads to a healthy heart and a low risk of any heart disease.
Folate: Beans are high in folic acid and folate, which is a nutrient that makes red blood cells and helps prevent neural defects in a fetus.
Gut health improvement: Beans help increase beneficial bacteria numbers and improve intestinal barrier function. This improves gut health in general.
Prevent fatty liver: Beans are low in overall fat content, so it helps lower fat in the blood and body, which in turn prevents fatty liver.
Reduces risk of cancer: According to research, some beans have such high antioxidant levels that they can greatly reduce the risk of cancer and slow down cancer growth.
Antioxidants: Beans contain good amounts of a certain type of antioxidants, polyphenols. This helps the body fight diseases.
Protein: All types of beans contain high amounts of protein, and unlike other protein sources, beans are low in saturated fat and calories. Soybean contains all nine types of essential amino acids.
The Side Effects Of Beans
A lot of healthy things can even become harmful for health if they are not taken in the right proportions. Similarly, too many beans can have some side effects.
Similar to many other vegetables, if you introduce a little too much beans into your diet from the very first day, chances are you will become gassy.
The right way to go about adding beans to your diet is little by little, and if you are already down the rabbit hole, then drink a lot of water and stay active.
Some people are allergic to beans, and even a small amount in their diet can cause life-threatening effects.
Beans contain a high amount of soluble and insoluble fibers that require liquid to move through your digestive tract. Hence, if you don't drink much water after eating beans, it might lead to constipation.
If you're only eating beans, your body is not getting the essential amino acids it needs, so the required amount of protein in your body stays incomplete. Add maize, wheat, or rice to make it a complete diet.
FAQs
What is the oldest bean?
The oldest bean is the domesticated fava bean or broad bean.
Why is it called a bean?
It's not known why they are called beans, but the word has German roots.
What is the most popular bean?
The pinto bean is one of the most popular beans in America.
How tall is the tallest bean?
The tallest bean plant stood 46.2 ft (14.1 m) high.
Who first ate beans?
The earliest consumption of beans leads to some eastern cultures.
Is 'bean' a nickname?
Yes, many people use 'bean' as an endearing nickname.
What is the smallest bean?
Mung beans are considered one of the smallest beans in the world.
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