The benefits and harms of white beans
White beans are a valuable source of protein and the champion among other plant foods in their content. Beans have a wide range of beneficial properties for the human body, but not everyone can eat them. Therefore, it is worthwhile to study in more detail the qualities of this delicious product.
Taste qualities. Beans are not only healthy, but also tasty. It can be consumed for lunch and dinner. Everyone has their own gastronomic preferences and complements the bean dishes with different vegetables. So, white beans harmonize very well with asparagus. In turn, red beans give the dish an attractive look, saturating it with colors.
Content:
- White beans composition
- The benefits of white beans
- Are Canned White Beans Healthy?
- Proper storage and selection of beans
- Cooking Beans Properly
- Spicy White Bean Salad Recipe
- Contraindications for use
White beans composition
100 g of white beans contains:
- Proteins - 7 g.
- Indigestible dietary fiber, which helps cleanse the body of harmful substances.
- Vitamin B9, which the body needs to fight atherosclerosis.
- A set of amino acids, including: Tryptophan, Arginine, Lysine, Tyrosine.
- Magnesium and Calcium, which help to strengthen teeth and bones.
If we consider what the benefits and harms of white beans are, then the positive qualities of this product will definitely prevail. First, beans are a valuable source of protein. Secondly, the arginine in beans helps lower blood sugar levels. Thirdly, beans are a non-nutritive product, because there are only 102 kcal per 100 g.
The benefits of white beans
Despite the low calorie content of white beans, it contributes to the fact that the feeling of hunger after eating them does not come for a long time. Beans are rich in fiber, which takes longer to digest, which means that a person remains full for a long time.
The protein contained in the beans is absorbed by the body by 75%. While protein derived from animal products is less digestible. By regularly including white beans on the menu, you can achieve the following effects:
- Immunity rises.
- A person is less likely to get sick, since his body is better able to resist various infections.
- Metabolism returns to normal.
- Inflammatory processes in the liver decrease or completely disappear.
- The digestive system is getting better.
- The work of the nervous system is normalized.
These are not all the positive qualities of white beans. With its regular use, it is possible to regulate the work of the urinary system, remove stones from the kidneys, and prevent tartar from appearing. Beans must be included in their menu for people suffering from constipation.
Traditional medicine widely uses beans to treat a wide variety of diseases. The product is useful to use and simply to improve your body.
Are Canned White Beans Healthy?
Canned white beans are a food that people often use to prepare various dishes. Indeed, it is very convenient to use ready-made beans from a can. However, keep in mind that canned beans contain acetic acid and a lot of salt. Therefore, in order to improve the quality of the dish, the beans must be rinsed before use. It should also be remembered that canned beans, when consumed in large quantities, can provoke increased gas formation.
Proper storage and selection of beans
To get the most out of the product, you need to choose natural, not canned, beans. When buying beans, be sure to pay attention to their appearance. Do not buy beans that have rot or mold on their surface. These signs indicate spoilage of the product, which means that it is dangerous to eat it.
After purchase, the beans must be folded into a glass container and tightly closed with a plastic lid. Place the jar in a dark and dry place, such as a kitchen cabinet.
You can store not only fresh, but also boiled beans. Once ready, it must be folded into a plastic bag and put into the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. For convenience, divide the beans into small portions before freezing.
Cooking Beans Properly
White beans can only be harmful when eaten raw. This product contains a large amount of polysaccharides, which contribute to increased gas formation and bloating. And raw beans also contain toxic substances. However, with proper processing of beans, toxins disappear from them.
To cook beans, you can use the following recommendations:
- Before boiling the beans, they must be soaked in water. The holding time is 10 hours.
- One part of the toxins from the beans will be removed with the water in which they were infused, and the remaining harmful substances can be removed during cooking. To do this, immediately after boiling, the water must be drained. Then the beans are again poured with cold water, 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil are added to the pan and put on fire.
- You need to cook the beans for a long time, you should not interfere with it so that the fruits do not crack. The fire must be made weak.
- During cooking, the product is not salted, as this will negatively affect the appearance of the beans. The salt is added after the pan is removed from the heat.
If you cook beans according to all the rules, then they will certainly benefit the body.
What is better to use with? Beans go well with vegetables that are rich in ascorbic acid. You can add beans to salads and other cold snacks. Dishes that combine white and red beans look very nice.
Spicy White Bean Salad Recipe
For cooking, you need 300 g of boiled beans. It is advisable to cook the beans yourself rather than using a canned product. This will make the salad tastier.
Chop 100 g of crab meat, mix it with beans and add 2 chopped tomatoes to the dish. Then put fresh parsley in the salad, and squeeze 2 cloves of garlic. All ingredients are mixed, salad is salted, pepper and seasoned with mayonnaise. Before serving, the dish can be sprinkled with croutons.
You can also add fresh or pickled cucumbers, boiled chicken and cheese to the salad, but potatoes will be inappropriate in it.
Contraindications for use
Beans contain a substance called purine. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it for people of retirement age. It is worth giving up beans for patients with gout, stomach ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis, nephritis and cholecystitis. There are no more contraindications to eating white beans.
White beans are definitely a healthy product. Therefore, if there are no prohibitions, beans must be included in your menu.
The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist
Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).
