Black Beans Are Brain Food

It's a good thing that our four-year-old son, Nicholas, enjoys black beans as much as he does, especially since they are considered to be one of the Top 10 Brain Foods. He's certainly onto something at his young age! In addition to being good for your mind, Science News also reports that black beans are invaluable in warding off heart disease. Already tagged as one of the <a href=” http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=2”>World's Healthiest Foods</a>, I can't say that I'm surprised by this. 

Beans contain numerous nutrients known to fight off heart disease. Says Campos, "It's a very good package in terms of a single food," she says. "Like other legumes, black beans contain folate, magnesium, alpha-linolenic acid, vitamin B6, and fiber. Beans make up a large portion of Costa Ricans' intake of these protective nutrients. For instance, beans make up 25 percent of their total fiber and 17 percent of their folate consumption," says study coauthor Edmond Kabagambe, also of Harvard. Additionally, they are also great for lowering cholesterol and since they also prevent blood sugar levels from raising to high, they’re perfect for those with diabetes.