Good for the heart, helps in boosting the immunity, low in fat content, abundance in proteins, helps in regulating the blood glucose levels, aids in digestive problems, rich in nutrients, give fullness to the stomach, helps in preventing cancer, has a versatile nature and it is pocket friendly are some of benefits of  heirloom beans.

What are Heirloom Beans?

To understand what heirloom beans are, you need to first understand what the word heirloom means. An heirloom is something that has been passed down in the family for generations. Now that usually is seen with jewelry and other artifacts but people do pass down seeds too and this becomes an heirloom plant.

The heirloom beans here are not really cultivated on a large scale but are passed down the generations by the family members. The thing that makes them special is that although the yield is smaller, the produce is of a far superior product. Also these beans are quite fresh and will be available in your local supermarket.

Read More: 11 Health Benefits of Pinto Beans for Babies

11 Amazing Health Benefits of Heirloom Beans

Heirloom beans do not just give you the delicious depth of flavor that is going to leave you wanting more, but also some really amazing health benefits. Some of these health benefits are:

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Beans are really good for the heart and are referred to as ‘heart healthy’ as they are abundant in the soluble fiber. The benefit of this soluble fiber is that it helps in lowering the cholesterol levels and also the triglycerides levels.

Moreover the bean also helps in the lowering of blood pressure levels, which is one of the major causes of heart disease in the USA. This is due to abundance of magnesium mineral in the beans.

If you are using canned beans then you can reduce the excess percentage of sodium (salt) by rinsing them off in water.

Read More: Health Benefits of Mung Bean for Babies

Helps in boosting the immunity

The beans also contain copper which is a necessary mineral that helps in maintaining healthy white blood cell count. These blood cells help in the destruction of the infective pathogens and also help in reducing the free radicals level in the circulatory system.

Due to deficiency of copper in the body, white blood cells are reduced in the circulation thus making the body susceptible to many infections and illness. This is especially important for the children. Thus they are critical for maintaining a strong immunity.

Read More: 11 Health Benefits of Adzuki Beans for Kids

Low in fat content

Many of the beans contain only 2 to 3 percentage of fat and most of them do not even contain any amount of cholesterol. This is excellent for people wishing to enjoy a good meal low in fat content. Although, if you are consuming processed beans, they do contain some amount of fats.

Read More: 11 Health Benefits of Lima Beans for Kids

Abundance in proteins

One excellent benefit of beans is that they contain huge amounts of protein. This is really necessary for vegetarians or vegans or even those who eat very less amounts of meat or fish.

About half Cup of beans provides almost 7 grams of protein which is the same amount of protein provided by 1 ounce of meat. It is well known that proteins are necessary for body building and children require this for healthy body and muscle growth.

Read More: 7 Proven Health Benefits of Navy Beans in Your Child’s Diet

Helps in regulating the blood glucose levels

Beans contain an amazing blend of complex carbohydrates and proteins. This helps in slow digestion of the beans and thus keeping the blood glucose levels stable. This prevents conditions of fatigue and irritability in the individual.

The added benefit is that the beans have a low glycemic index.  Glycemic index is the relative ranking of carbohydrate levels in food according to how they affect blood glucose levels.

Aids in digestive problems

Due to abundance of fiber content in beans they add bulk to the stool and thus promote its regularity by preventing constipation.  This is beneficial for those who are gluten – sensitive and cannot eat food containing wheat, barley, rye and sometimes even oats.

You can fasten the benefit of beans by drinking ample amounts of water, whether it is still or sparkling type.

Rich in nutrients

Aside from being rich in proteins, complex carbohydrates, they also contain abundant amounts of nutrients such as anti – oxidants, vitamins, minerals like copper, magnesium, folate, iron, phosphorous, manganese, zinc and potassium.

A large portion of the population is deficient in these minerals and consuming beans regularly can help fulfill this need.

Helps in preventing cancer

Due to the abundance in anti – oxidants and also soluble fiber content, it is believed that beans help in preventing chronic diseases such as cancer and also helps in promoting overall good health.

Give fullness to the stomach

As you already know that beans are slowly digested in the body, these are excellent to providing fullness to the stomach. This is useful for aiding in weight loss by keeping you full and avoiding your consumption of excess calories.

Has a versatile nature

You can incorporate beans as your main dish, or as a side dish or as an appetizer or even as a snack. You can use the various colors and shapes and sizes of the beans to make dishes that are appealing to your children too.

It is pocket friendly

Beans are one such vegetable that is both pocket friendly and also provides several good benefits.

Heirloom Beans Recipe: Its a Must Try 

Make this simple and delicious ‘Simply beans’ recipe to enjoy.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound Heirloom Beans
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 large carrots, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste

Procedure

• You will first have to soak the beans for a few hours to lessen your cooking time.
• Heat a sauce pan over medium heat and add oil and vegetables. Sauté this for a few minutes.
• Add garlic and sauté for another minute.
• Then add beans and enough water to just cover the beans.
• Allow it to come to a boil for about five minutes, then cover the sauce pan with a lid and allow this to simmer for about two to three hours.
• Once the bean is tender enough, add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve this warm and enjoy.

Conclusion

Heirloom bean basically means beans that have been passed down the family in generations and is of a superior produce. Although this gives lesser yield, it is packed with several benefits and great taste too.

Some of these benefits are – regulates blood sugar level, good for the heart, has low fat content, eases constipation, packed with protein, boosts immunity, and is also rich in anti – oxidants, several important vitamins, minerals – potassium, zinc, iron, folate, copper, phosphorous, etc.