Beans Health Benefits: Eat Dry Beans, Peas, and Lentils for Heart Health
Dried beans, peas, and lentils include kidney beans, navy beans, chickpeas, Great Northern beans, black-eyed peas, split peas, and lima beans.
Dry beans, peas and lentils are a very economical option for adding protein and nutrients to your diet with a 1-pound costing an average of $0.15 per serving for dry beans and between $0.35 to $0.50 per serving depending on brand for canned beans.
Beans Health Benefits: Dry beans, peas, and lentils are highly nutritious
— Contain almost twice the protein of whole grains and all nine essential amino acids
— Provide both soluble and insoluble fiber
— Low in sodium. If prepared without added salt contain they contain almost no sodium. Canned options are higher in sodium. Select “low sodium” or “no added salt” options. Draining and rinsing canned beans, peas and lentils reduces sodium content by 41%.
— Contain almost no fat. Fat content depends on what is added during preparation.
— A plant source of iron. Plant iron sources are a little harder for the body to absorb. To boost iron absorption, combine with foods contains vitamin C.
— Rich source of magnesium, zinc, and potassium.
— Gluten-free
