Black Beans Benefits | Black Beans Health Benefits
The health benefits of black beans include the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and a reduced risk of certain types of cancer. Consuming black beans can also aid in digestive health and the regulation of the body’s blood sugar levels. Black beans can also be beneficial for various nervous system functions, can reduce the chances of birth defects, neutralize the negative effects of sulfites, and even prevent impotence in men.
What are Black Beans?
Black beans are a simple and delicious dietary addition that can improve your overall health in many ways!
Black turtle beans, more commonly known as black beans, are shiny, black members of the common bean family, Phaseolus vulgaris. They are most commonly found in and have been popularized by Latin American cuisine, and are known by many names in various cultures throughout South and Central America. There are six main types of black turtle beans, with relatively similar appearances and nutritional values.
Although they have been cultivated and cooked for thousands of years in South America, black beans did not cross the Atlantic until the 1500’s in the boats of European explorers.
The general form of black beans can be changed without losing the nutritional benefits, although some may be lost when they are made into soups or when ground up and exposed to high temperatures. The widespread growth and low cost are what initially made black beans a cultural staple, but as more information is learned about the benefits of adding black beans into healthy diets, it is being pursued for a number of other reasons.
One popular preparation technique is to soak black beans in water before cooking or eating them. By allowing the beans to soak in water, studies have shown that certain phytates and tannins are removed, which lowers the nutrient availability, and the beans also retain beneficial “resistant starch” while losing some of the total carbohydrate content. In some parts of the world, beans are given an independent box in the Food Pyramid, because they are such a beneficial and vital part of those cultural diets.
They are very popular among vegetarians because when they are combined with brown rice, a “complete protein” is formed. A common problem in vegetarian diets is acquiring proper amounts of protein, so black beans and brown rice can offer a simple and inexpensive solution.
Black Beans Nutritional Value
Black beans are very high in fiber and protein, and rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, calcium, iron, and manganese. Black beans also have high levels of flavonoids, which have antioxidant abilities, particularly anthocyanin, and contain some omega-3 fatty acids, which is considered a “good” form of cholesterol.
Black beans are a great source of folic acid and have abnormally high levels of the rare compound molybdenum, which is very difficult to add naturally to a health regimen.
Black Beans Health Benefits
Adding black beans to your diet will provide you with many nutrients and help prevent various health conditions. Let us look at the benefits in detail below:
Relieve Digestive Issues
Black beans are great for regulating digestive issues because they contain high levels of protein and fiber, making them a “superfood” of sorts. Protein and fiber both help food move through the digestive tract, allowing it to have its nutrients removed and then the waste expelled in a healthy way. They are also digested slower than meat, which has a similar protein content, so eating beans can leave you satisfied longer. In this way, black beans can clean out a digestive system and help to prevent overeating.
Black beans are also smaller than other beans, which people find easier to digest. Over time, with a regular addition of black beans to the diet, the soluble fiber content will absorb water into your stool, which can reduce constipation.
Boost Nervous System
Black beans can also benefit the functions of the nervous system by helping to provide the necessary amino acids and molybdenum. Black beans have many vitamins and minerals, but there is a noticeably higher amount of vitamin B9 or folate. Folate, also known as folic acid, plays a key part in the regulation of specific amino acids that the nervous system requires. Without dietary folate, studies have shown an increase in homocysteine levels, which can be a dangerous precursor to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Regularly adding black beans to your diet can ensure safe folate levels in your system, helping to prevent some of these conditions.
Treat Sexual Dysfunction
Studies have shown that black beans are extremely high in molybdenum, a rare mineral not found frequently in foods. Molybdenum is important for a number of reasons, primarily because it can break down and detoxify sulfites. Sulfites are acidic compounds found in wines, dried fruits, and some vegetables, and many people are very sensitive to their effects, which include a headache and disorientation. The molybdenum found in black beans counteracts these effects, neutralizing the negative effects so people can enjoy those foods again. Molybdenum also helps in cell energy production and development of nervous system.
Improve Heart Health
One of the best benefits of adding black beans to your daily or weekly diet is the high level of fiber that they contain. They have high concentrations of soluble fiber, which has been proven to help lower blood cholesterol. Soluble fiber attracts water and turns into a gel during digestion, whereas insoluble fiber adds mass to food and helps it pass through the digestive system faster. Lowering blood cholesterol can reduce thickening of the artery walls, which in turn can prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Black beans also have small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which are “good” forms of cholesterol that balance the negative effects of omega-6 fatty acids, “bad” cholesterols. They have anti-hypertensive effects, which means that they can improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and put less strain or oxidative stress on the cardiovascular system as a whole.
Relieve Digestive Issues
Black beans are great for regulating digestive issues because they contain high levels of protein and fiber, making them a “superfood” of sorts. Protein and fiber both help food move through the digestive tract, allowing it to have its nutrients removed and then the waste expelled in a healthy way. They are also digested slower than meat, which has a similar protein content, so eating beans can leave you satisfied longer. In this way, black beans can clean out a digestive system and help to prevent overeating.
Black beans are also smaller than other beans, which people find easier to digest. Over time, with a regular addition of black beans to the diet, the soluble fiber content will absorb water into your stool, which can reduce constipation.
Control Blood Sugar
Uneven digestive rates can cause unbalanced blood sugar levels in the body, but black beans regulate this issue as well. As mentioned above, the fiber and protein in black beans keep digestion at a steady rate, so concentrated doses of nutrient uptake do not occur. Rather, a steady removal of nutrients occurs throughout the digestive process. When digestion is unsteady, spikes or crashes in blood sugar can occur, which are dangerous and even fatal to patients with diabetes or similar blood sugar-related conditions.
