Beans seem to be a bit of a magical food, and we're not just referring to that schoolyard rhyme that refers to the heartand perhaps tooting, depending on what version you learned. Whether you're going for kidneys or pintos, beans have such large amount of fiber and protein that they have copious health benefits. If you incorporate a cup of beans into your daily diet, its fiber content can greatly reduce your cholesterol. And if you're a vegetarian, there's nothing like a super filling meal that contains a large portion of beans to increase your protein intake without the accompanying fats that meat contains.
Bean Varieties
Given the benefits above, it shouldn't be a surprise that beans have been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease. There are also some rare antioxidants found in beans that may inhibit the growth of dangerous cells that are linked to cancerous growths. See? Miracle food!
You can purchase beans in the dried variety, which is a bit more labor intensive then popping open canned beans that are stored in water or salt water. If you're going the canned bean route, just be sure to check that the sodium levels of the beans aren't too far out of whack. Refried beans are generally just as healthy, just make sure you're looking for the low fat varieties if you're worried about your waistline (and watch out for sodium). There are also baked beans to consider as well, for a special treat.
