HEALTH BENEFITS OF KIDNEY BEANS
Why we should all be eating more kidney beans:
Kidney beans are one of the best sources of plant protein available. As well as being extremely tasty, they’re also extraordinarily versatile, and can be used in stews, salads, rice dishes or even in sweet dishes! What’s more, they’re packed with minerals, vitamins and all kinds of compounds beneficial to the health of your body and mind.
Here are 5 big health benefits of eating kidney beans:
Kidney beans are packed with fibre
Cooked kidney beans contain a whopping 6.4g of fibre per 100g, which is superb for your digestive health. Eating plenty of fibre is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer. These brilliant beans also contain lots of alpha-galactosides, which beneficially stimulate the growth and activity of living bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the human colon.
They can help regulate blood sugar
Because they’re so high in fibre, kidney beans reduce the absorption of sugar by the blood. In a study of adults with type 2 diabetes, it was concluded that eating kidney beans with rice significantly reduced the spike in blood sugar levels after the meal, compared to just eating the rice alone.
They are great for weight management
Kidney beans contain loads of resistant starch, which is brilliant for controlling your weight. Resistant starch is a prebiotic, and is extremely good for the health of your colon and digestive tract, and cause the formation of many healthy short-chain fatty acids in the gut, which are valuable in the fight against cancer.
Kidney beans contain several fantastically beneficial compounds
This wonder beans contains anthocyanins, which a recent study found possess antioxidative and antimicrobial activities, improve visual and neurological health, and protect against various non-communicable diseases. They also contain isoflavones, a type of antioxidant also found in soy beans. They also contain proteins which can reduce the absorption of carbohydrates, leading to weight loss.
Kidney beans are full of vitamins and minerals
These pleasing pulses pack a punch when it comes to vitamins and minerals. They’re absolutely full of iron, copper, managanese and potassium, and they’re a brilliant source of vitamin K1, which is essential for blood coagulation. They’re also very high in the trace element Molybdenum, which is vital for liver and kidney health, and plays a part in cleaning the body of various harmful compounds and preventing the buildup of toxins.
Kidney beans are nutritional powerhouses that can provide you with a multitude of benefits if you incorporate them into your diet. If you’re looking for better gut health, weight management or increased mineral intake, these little red beans are the perfect food for you. Want to make a lip-smacking dessert using kidney beans? Learn how to make delicious bean brownies with cashew cream here.
If you’re looking to stock up on beans in general, take a look at our huge range of organic and regular beans.