The miracle weight-loss dish of this year will be sought after by chefs, bloggers, and health experts alike, but the solution might be closer to home than you might think. Forget chia seeds and quinoa; the common green bean might hold the key to staying healthy!
These familiar tiny legumes are a cheap, readily available source of protein and fiber and a health food. In actuality, green beans have a much wider spectrum of health advantages than you might think. There has never been a better time to… eat your greens, especially with French beans and broad beans currently in season!
1. They’re beneficial to your eyes
Despite the fact that green beans are, well, green, they contain carotenoids, which are pigments that are also present in many other colorful vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. There are actually three: zeaxanthin, lutein, and beta-carotene. In addition to being antioxidants, they are a good source of vitamin A, which improves your night vision and protects your eyes from the damaging blue light that high-intensity light emits.
2. They will safeguard your heart
Flavonoids, another type of antioxidant frequently present in fruits and vegetables, are abundant in green beans. In controlled studies, it was discovered that individuals with high levels of flavonoids had anti-thrombotic effects, which decreased the risk of blood clots in veins and arteries. Flavonoids are recognized for their anti-inflammatory qualities. In other words, consuming a lot of green beans regularly may lower your risk of stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular disease.
3. Your bones will be strengthened.
While everyone is aware that calcium plays a crucial role in the formation of bones in the body, Vitamin K plays an equally significant role that is less well understood. This is due to the fact that vitamin K helps your body absorb calcium by creating proteins. Additionally, it aids in controlling bone metabolism, limiting the loss of essential minerals. Another illustration of the numerous health advantages of green beans is the 20mg of vitamin K that one cup of boiling french beans typically contains.
4. They’re beneficial to digestion
Green beans have a lot of fiber, which is good for your digestive system. Consuming high-fibre foods on a regular basis is a smart approach to maintain your system functioning effectively, whether or not you have a digestive condition. Constipation, diverticulosis, and hemorrhoids can all be treated with their assistance. They may also lower your risk of developing colon cancer, according to some research.
5. They provide vitamin C.
Vitamin C is another abundant antioxidant in green beans. It functions as an antioxidant by scavenging free radicals and preventing damage to DNA, lipids, proteins, and healthy cells. But vitamin C’s health advantages don’t end there. Additionally, it aids in the production of collagen, which is one of the connective tissues that surrounds and protects your bones, tendons, internal organs, and skin.
6. They are loaded with essential minerals.
Zinc, iron, and folate are particularly abundant are green beans a fruit. Your body’s enzymes require zinc, which is necessary for growth and development. Iron preserves white blood cells and is necessary for the body’s transportation of oxygen. Folate is essential to the metabolic processes that produce genetic material, which explains why pregnant women should take supplements or eat foods containing it. All three are crucial to your wellbeing and provide another another illustration of how green beans are so good for you.
7. Eating seasonally
In addition to being good for you, eating fruit and vegetables in season is also good for the environment. The two varieties of green beans that are in season right now are French and broad beans, both of which should be available in large quantities at your local store.