21. Beans and Lentils
Beans are technically seeds that come from the Fabaceae family and are commonly known as beans, peas or legumes. Lentils fall under the same category as do peanuts which are actually not a nut but a legume. Beans make for an inexpensive, but healthy, option to consume protein, fibre and vitamins along with many health benefits. Some top bean and lentil choices include:
– Black beans
– Lima beans
– Garbanzo beans
– Soybeans
– Kidney beans
– Black-eyed peas
– Navy beans
– Pinto beans
Super rich in protein, beans are a fantastic meat substitute, packed with protein that keeps our bellies full, minus the saturated fats found in red meat. The rich fibre content in beans also helps to keep us sustained and full, as well as helping to stabilise blood sugar levels.
Beans are a very nutrient dense food and are high in folate. If your folate levels are low, you may experience symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, heart palpitations and irritability. Beans are also a great source of zinc, iron and magnesium. So make sure you’re eating plenty of different beans!
