[Guest Post] Little Beans Add Big Benefits to a Vegan Diet by Michelle Rebecca

 

Little Beans Add Big Benefits to A Vegan Diet

A vegan diet includes tons of fresh fruit and vegetables. While these food choices give you plenty of benefits, adding beans gives your diet a big boost. From soups to salads, find out how little beans add big benefits to your vegan diet.

What type of Beans Should you Choose?

Dry, fresh or canned beans offer the same benefits. Canned beans, however, often include extra sodium. When possible, buy canned beans with no added sodium.

With 13,000 species of available beans, you’re sure to find a kind you like. Plus, they’re affordable. Like mustang parts make a car run, beans help your body function better.

Help your Heart

The soluble fiber in beans reduces your risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke. Heart healthy hummus is a great meal or snack choice. Mash your favorite beans with lemon juice, tahini paste and garlic. Use it as a dip for raw veggie sticks and pita chips as a heart helper.

Lower Cholesterol

Beans give your liver a signal to slow its production of cholesterol, and they tell your blood to clean out dangerous LDL cholesterol. The fiber in beans can even remove cholesterol from your intestine. It’s equivalent to buying new mustang parts when your car is spitting exhaust everywhere because the pipes are old.

Substituting beans for cholesterol-reducing foods like oatmeal and fish lowers your cholesterol level. Include them in your daily diet when you mix beans with salsa, or make a salad with arugula, beans and parmesan cheese.

Improve Immunity

Among antioxidant-rich foods, beans rank number one ahead of blueberries. As antioxidants, they lower your risk for developing some cancers, and they increase your immunity. Mix them in with rice or fresh vegetables and Italian dressing for an immunity boost.

Decrease Diabetes

With a low glycemic index, beans prevent your blood sugar from spiking. They also help you feel full longer so you don’t overeat or feel like snacking all day. Vegetarian chili, made with a variety of beans, is the perfect comfort food that decreases diabetes.

Stay Regular

For regularity, women age 19 to 50 need 25 grams of fiber a day, and men age 19 to 50 need 38 grams. In one cup, most beans include 15 grams of fiber. Use beans to keep your digestive system working properly.

By eating beans twice a day, you meet your fiber needs and stay regular. For lunch, include beans in your lettuce wraps for digestive regularity. During dinner, serve tofu as an entrée, and mash beans with potatoes as a side dish suitable for any occasion.

Beans pack a huge punch. Try experimenting with different types until you find your favorite kinds. Look for ways to add them to any dish, serve them as side dishes or eat them plain. Your body and your budget will thank you when you add little beans with their big benefits to your vegan diet.

Byline: Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publicly voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.