Table of contents:
- 1. Smooth digestion
- 2. Maintain heart health
- 3. Control your appetite
- 4. Prevent diabetes
- 5. Prevent cancer
- 6. Prevent premature aging
Red beans are a food that is quite often found everyday. You can cook kidney beans as a vegetable, soup, or as a dessert. Even today you can find kidney beans in any type of food and drink, from bread, ice cream, pudding, and red bean milk ice. However, many people do not know that peanuts, which are widely grown in Asian countries such as Indonesia and India, are not only delicious, but also very beneficial for health. From losing weight to preventing cancer, you also have more reasons to eat kidney beans. Here are 6 benefits of kidney beans for our health.
1. Smooth digestion
One of the very high content in red beans is fiber. In every 100 grams, kidney beans offer approximately 13 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber. This insoluble fiber is mostly found in the skin while soluble fiber is mostly found in the peas.
Insoluble fiber is effective for pushing food in the intestines so that your digestive tract is smoother. This fiber is also able to remove remaining toxins in the body and maintain the acidity of your stomach. This can help you avoid digestive problems such as constipation and diarrhea. Meanwhile, the soluble fiber will dissolve together with water and bind it to become thicker like a gel. This gel will stay in the stomach for quite a long time. Hence, your stomach will not be left empty for too long. Your risk of getting an ulcer is reduced.
In addition, kidney beans also contain starch, which is a type of complex carbohydrate that is similar to soluble fiber. In your large intestine, the starch will help the development of various good bacteria. Good bacteria are needed to fight various digestive problems.
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2. Maintain heart health
Kidney beans are a source of protein that is cholesterol-free and low in fat. You can get approximately 20 grams of protein for every 100 grams of kidney beans. This figure is sufficient for 40% of your daily protein needs. By eating red beans, you can meet your protein needs without having to fear cholesterol or saturated fat levels in the body to rise. Meanwhile, if you eat meat to meet protein needs, you can't help but increase fat and cholesterol levels. In addition, the soluble fiber contained in red beans is also responsible for balancing the levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL).
Eating red beans can also control your blood pressure. Red beans are rich in minerals such as folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium which can suppress homocysteine levels in the blood. Homocysteine itself is one of the triggers for coronary heart disease. In addition, the benefits of kidney beans for heart health are to ease the work of blood vessels and improve blood circulation to the heart.
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3. Control your appetite
Because kidney beans are rich in protein, soluble fiber, and complex carbohydrates, eating kidney beans can keep you full longer. That way, you won't be easily tempted to look for snacks or other foods. For those of you who are trying to lose weight, the benefits of red beans on this one are of course a pity to miss.
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4. Prevent diabetes
The fiber in kidney beans helps keep glucose from being released in the blood too quickly. Likewise with complex carbohydrates in kidney beans. Unlike simple carbohydrates which dissolve easily, complex carbohydrates will not produce glucose in the blood as fast as simple carbohydrates. That way, the level of sugar in your blood will not suddenly rise, leading to diabetes. Red beans are also effective in preventing insulin resistance which is at risk of worsening blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
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5. Prevent cancer
A study conducted by Harvard Medical School revealed that a diet high in fiber can prevent cancer, especially breast cancer. Another French study published in The Journal of Nutrition has shown that a diet rich in fiber can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by nearly 50%. Meanwhile, in every 100 grams of red beans, you can get 52% of your daily fiber needs. Regularly eating red beans will prevent you from the risk of cancer.
6. Prevent premature aging
The benefits of red beans are not only for preventing disease, but also for maintaining youthfulness. Red beans are high in antioxidants, even exceeding the antioxidants in certain vegetables and fruits. Even among other beans such as soybeans or peanuts, red beans have been the champion in preventing premature aging. This is because the darker the color, the higher the antioxidant content. Antioxidants are able to ward off free radicals and prevent damage to body cells. These things are factors that trigger premature aging.
ALSO READ: 4 Health Benefits of Drinking Rice Water
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