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Beans:
(Leguminosus)

With different varieties grown everywhere around the world, beans are obviously a very important, healthful, and ancient food. Rich in protein, iron, fiber, B-vitamins, minerals, and beneficial complex carbohydrates, with no cholesterol or saturated fat. Building and strengthening to the body, different colors provide the key to which part of the body a particular variety will benefit most readily. Red (kidney, aduki) benefits the heart; black, the kidneys; white (navy, lima) the colon, etc. They help reduce cholesterol and balance blood sugar imbalances. Higher in protein (17 to 25%) than eggs and most meat, they also provide isoflavones that help to prevent heart disease and cancer.

Uses are endless! Soak, cook, and freeze for later convenience. Keep some prepared on hand in refrigerator and add to salsa, top a sweet potato, roll into a wrap with grilled veggies and avocado, or use to fill a pita, toss into salad, on pasta, or into soup. Puree with lemon juice and some tomatoes and use in place of mayonnaise on sandwiches. Add a piece of peeled ginger or a strip of any seaweed to cooking water to add flavor and increase digestibility.