Benefits of beans include lower cancer risk

4 or more servings of legumes a week can make a difference, studies show
Could eating more beans be your next step toward a healthful diet? Two new studies suggest that eating beans could lower your risk of developing a colon adenoma, a non-cancerous tumor that can progress into colon cancer. Previous studies link greater consumption of legumes (dried beans and peas) with lower risk of heart disease.

New analysis of almost 35,000 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study shows that women who ate four or more servings of legumes a week were 33 percent less likely to develop colorectal adenomas than those consuming one serving a week or less. A new study from the National Cancer Institute shows that among people who had previously developed colon adenomas, those who increased consumption of dry beans the most were 45 percent less likely to face a recurrence of advanced adenoma than those who slightly decreased the amount of beans they ate. Four or more servings of legumes per week was enough to decrease risk of heart disease 22 percent compared to those eating legumes less than once a week in a large national survey.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15145789/

thanks for bringing this up!
beans and legumes are are a tremendously underrated source of protein that americans are largely neglecting in their diet. we are such a meat-oriented society, that we forget to take advantage of the amazing variety and diversity, nutrition, and cheap cost (!!) of beans, legumes, & grains, too. somehow the poor bean has been brushed off with that stupid, tired old stereotype/joke of having, well, a certain effect on people. which is a shame,, because that's largely blown out of proportion. most people never have a problem with that, unless they have some kind of digestive problem, or a bad diet to begin with. when we think of beans, we think of baked beans, mexican food, and maybe succotash,, and well... gosh that's about it. or they think it's just a vegetarian thing. too bad, because you can really get creative with them. you can also cut your grocery budget way down, and cut your saturated fat intake, if you buy less meat & more beans/legumes. PLUS they don't spoil, don't need refrigeration & you can keep 'em around forever!

look at these amazing bean galleries i found-

http://www.barryfarm.com/beans.htm
http://www.purcellmountainfarms.com/Heirloom Beans.htm

reb said:

thanks for bringing this up!
beans and legumes are are a tremendously underrated source of protein that americans are largely neglecting in their diet. we are such a meat-oriented society, that we forget to take advantage of the amazing variety and diversity, nutrition, and cheap cost (!!) of beans, legumes, & grains, too. somehow the poor bean has been brushed off with that stupid, tired old stereotype/joke of having, well, a certain effect on people. which is a shame,, because that's largely blown out of proportion. most people never have a problem with that, unless they have some kind of digestive problem, or a bad diet to begin with. when we think of beans, we think of baked beans, mexican food, and maybe succotash,, and well... gosh that's about it. or they think it's just a vegetarian thing. too bad, because you can really get creative with them. you can also cut your grocery budget way down, and cut your saturated fat intake, if you buy less meat & more beans/legumes. PLUS they don't spoil, don't need refrigeration & you can keep 'em around forever!

look at these amazing bean galleries i found-

http://www.barryfarm.com/beans.htm
http://www.purcellmountainfarms.com/Heirloom%20Beans.htm

Click to expand...

I love beans! I eat them regularly. I think that the bad rap comes partly from the fact that they are not complete proteins. But when coupled with certain complementary foods they become complete easy enough.
Beans Beans the magical fruit! They don't call me JBEAN for nothing.

chili without beans isnt as good as with beans.