Eating legumes (beans) has been associated in numerous studies with a longer lifespan across the globe. Just 2 tbsp of beans can reduce your risk of death by 8%. So, if you eat a couple of black bean veggie burgers, a cup of hummus, a bean soup, a lentil salad etc on a daily basis, you could be reducing your risk of early death by disease by a whopping 20 – 25%!
Beans are sometimes known as the “poor man’s meat” but I like to think of them as “the SMART man’s meat” because if we look at the bare facts, the increased consumption of beans increases lifespan, and the increased consumption of meat decreases lifespan. Pretty darn simple, right?
I cook with beans every single day. I love to create beans dips, lentil soups, veggie burgers etc. And if I want to just dial up the protein in a regular salad of veggie bowl, I simply add a cup of beans.
Some people are worried about the gas factor, and this might be a deterrent for some, but here are 3 gas-reducing tips!
- Give it time – if you suddenly introduce more beans into your diet, you may experience a little more gas, but this will go away after a couple of days, as you body gets used to them. So, persist.
- Chew your beans thoroughly. The oligosaccharide-digesting enzymes start in your saliva – so very important to chew properly.
- If you are preparing dried beans, make sure you soak them for at least 12 hours prior to cooking.
I include a bunch of absolutely delicious bean-rich recipes in my new book Gorgeous For Good – 30 Days To Lasting Beauty Inside & Out, along with a plethora of nutritional recommendations to ensure that you live at the top of your game – healthy and glowing.
