Image by: Ella Olsson
Why beans are the perfect plant-based protein source to stop aging.
Beans the secret Longevity Booster.
Many, unfortunately, are not big fans of beans. They are often associated with flatulence and digestive problems. However, this is not so much due to the beans, but often to a gut that is not fully intact. Beans absolutely belong on the weekly menu and are also extremely versatile.
In many cultures around the world, beans have always been known as a staple food.
And not without reason. Not only are they a great source of plant-based protein, but they also offer numerous health benefits that contribute to longevity.
Beans are affordable even in poorer countries, but that doesn’t mean they are a poor man’s food. On the contrary, being healthy and smart does not always have to cost a lot of money.
We’ll tell you why beans help you stop aging and we will give you tips on how to incorporate them into your diet. And to get you started, we’ve also got some fantastic recipes for you that you’d never think of.
The Power of Beans – A Diverse Plant Protein Source for Longevity
Why do beans help to stay young longer?
1. rich in nutrients
Beans are packed with important nutrients that our body needs. They contain valuable fiber, protein, vitamins such as folate and vitamin B6, minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium, and important antioxidants. All of these nutrients play an important role in gut health as well.
2. for your heart
Regular consumption of beans is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The high fiber content helps lower cholesterol and maintain healthy blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems.
3. Perfect blood sugar
High blood sugar is one of the most important components when it comes to your body aging faster. In addition to the strong pro-inflammatory effect, it attacks our blood vessels and cells. Therefore, one of the simplest, but also most important points is to make sure that your blood sugar level does not rise rapidly after eating. Beans are perfect for this due to their low glycemic index.
4. optimum weight
Obesity also has a strong pro-inflammatory effect and deprives our body of many important nutrients. However, to get to your optimal weight, you should avoid dieting and look to incorporate a balanced diet into your daily routine.
Beans are rich in fiber and protein, both of which contribute to a feeling of satiety. Incorporating beans into your diet gives your body valuable nutrients, protein and helps you naturally balance, which is crucial for your overall well-being and longevity.
5. antioxidant effect
Although you wouldn’t immediately associate them with it, beans contain several antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic compounds that help protect against cell damage caused by free radicals. These antioxidants are associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
6. structure and maintenance of cells
Proteins are the number one source when it comes to building and growing our cells and tissues. One of the reasons why our body ages is that our cells die and repair processes can thus no longer take place. At the same time, more and more senescent cells or also called zombie cells develop. Cells that make us age faster and also become more and more the older we get. Beans are therefore the perfect plant-based source of protein to provide us with sufficient nutrition.
Image by: Virginia Marinova
FRESH BEANS OR CANNED BEANS?
Now that we’ve shown you how valuable beans are and hopefully convinced you to give them a chance, the question remains: fresh beans or canned beans? We took a look at a few items to see what the best way is to incorporate this plant-based protein source into your day.
Nutritional value
Fresh beans retain more of their original nutritional value than canned beans. The preservation process may result in some loss of nutrients, especially water-soluble vitamins such as C and B vitamins. However, canned beans still contain a significant amount of nutrients as well as protein and are a convenient alternative to fresh beans.
Time
Fresh beans definitely need more time. They need to be soaked and cooked before you can use them. This can take between 1 and 2 hours, depending on the type of bean. Often they need to be soaked 24 hours in advance which requires some planning. Canned beans, on the other hand, are precooked and ready to use, which saves valuable time because they can be used directly and spontaneously from the can.
Additives
Like all processed and preserved foods, canned beans can also contain
have ingredients that are not necessarily suitable for a healthy diet. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to good quality, because especially the cheap versions often use a lot of sugar and a lot of salt. With fresh beans, you can be sure that they contain only what they are naturally supposed to.
Taste
Fresh beans have a firmer bite than canned beans, even after cooking. Canned beans are great for recipes where they need to be mashed into a paste. Fresh beans, on the other hand, are definitely better if you want to serve them as a side dish, or as a topping like for our Tex Mex sweet potato
Ultimately, the decision between fresh beans or canned beans comes down to your personal taste.
Diversity
Often we know only kidney beans, green beans, or sometimes still white beans because our grandmother made delicious dishes from them. Especially when it comes to finished beans, the choice is severely limited in terms of what an incredible variety of bean varieties there are. So if you want to try something special, stop by your local health food store around the corner. Here are often many different varieties in dried form, which also look beautiful.
Recipe ideas for your everyday life
To get you started right away, we’ve picked out a few recipes for you here.
These make it super easy for you to get started and show you how many ways you can make this great plant-based protein source your new favorite food while stop aging.
Bean Brownies
Have you ever tried brownies made from beans? They are a delicious and healthier alternative to regular brownies and super easy to make. Pureed beans in brownie recipes also give it a perfect consistency.
One of our favorite recipes is from Cinnamon & Corinader .
Bean dip
Vegan spreads and dips are also super easy and quick to make at home. So also from beans. Just mix white cooked beans or canned with garlic, lemon juice, and herbs. You can find the full recipe here at Ela Vegan.
It is the perfect side dish for crunchy vegetables, antipasti or dip.
Bean Burger Patties
We all love burgers, but it doesn’t always have to be meat. Even though there are now many vegan alternatives in the supermarket, it is also worth making them yourself once. Beans are the perfect base for this and are much richer in protein than the meat variety. These burger patties made with beans from Eat This don’t just satisfy your cravings.
What can you take from here
These wonderful legumes are not only a fantastic plant-based source of proteinbut also the key to a longer and healthier life. Packed with essential nutrients, beans offer many healthy benefits that will adequately nourish your body and help you to stop aging. Many great recipes also give you the opportunity to incorporate them into your meal routine super quickly and easily.
