Beans is one of the most ancient cultures and still occupies not the last place on the tables of many peoples of the world. It is believed that it first appeared in South and Central America, and then spread around the world in areas with a warm climate. Beans are not only a valuable food product, but also a folk remedy for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, an ornamental plant and a cosmetic preparation. At the same time, beans are a nutritious and poisonous product. The benefits and harms are due to its composition: it contains both valuable and toxic elements.
Beans include all the substances necessary for normal functioning. The main value of beans is the high content of easily digestible vegetable protein. A quarter of the bean seeds consist of protein, which is absorbed by the body by almost 80% and makes it an excellent substitute for meat. But fat in beans contains very little - about 2%, so beans are one of the main dietary products and is recommended for people seeking to lose weight.
In addition to protein, beans are rich in carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, amino acids. It contains vitamins A, E, C, PP, B. Of the minerals, iron, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iodine should be noted ; of amino acids - tyrosine, lysine, methionine.
Beans, the benefits and harms of which are always taken into account, are an important food product for different peoples. It can be a separate dish or it can be a part of soups, salads, main dishes. Garnishes and cereals, flour and canned food are prepared from it. Many housewives have in their arsenal crown beans dishes.
From this wonderful culture, diet dishes are prepared for diseases of the digestive system, kidneys, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and tuberculosis. Especially useful for weight loss is the leguminous variety. Bean dishes are indispensable for heart diseases, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. It has antibacterial and sedative properties, regulates metabolism, and positively affects the secretory activity of the stomach. The culture has a good effect on the functioning of the genitourinary system, is a diuretic, promotes the removal of stones from the kidneys and gall bladder, prevents the formation of dental deposits, and reduces the risk of cancer.
Since ancient times, traditional healers use beans as a prophylactic and medicine. Decoctions of seeds and pods are taken with cardiac and renal edema, with high blood pressure, rheumatism, and diabetes. Lotions from infusions of flowers, beans, pods help with ulcers, wounds, skin diseases.
Beans are an excellent facial skin care product. Boiled bean masks with the addition of vegetable oil and lemon juice give the skin a healthy fresh look, smooth wrinkles.
You should know when eating beans - the benefits and harms of it depend on the method of preparation. Raw beans contain toxic elements that adversely affect the digestive system, irritate their mucous membranes and even lead to poisoning. Therefore, beans must be properly prepared so that the toxins are completely destroyed. To do this, bean must be heat-treated, in which it does not lose its valuable qualities. First, it is soaked in cold water for several hours, and then boiled for about two hours without salt or stewed. Canned beans, the use of which is also beyond doubt, retains all its beneficial properties.
There are many varieties of beans, and all of them have excellent dietary qualities, but, according to experts, red beans are especially appreciated, the benefits of which are tangible. This bean variety is more saturated with vitamins, macro- and microelements, but it should be noted that it surpasses other varieties in the content of toxic substances. Therefore, the process of soaking it in cold water before the heat treatment should last about ten hours.
Not everyone can eat beans. Benefit and harm at the same time is one of the properties of this product. It is not recommended to eat beans in the presence of gastritis, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, colitis. Eating it can lead to gas formation and bloating. Caution should be exercised by the elderly, but not completely ruled out.