Beneficial and harmful properties of black beans for health, description of varieties

Any variety of black beans is a healthy dish that is recommended to be included in the diet of people suffering from heart and circulatory diseases, excess body weight, and diabetes. These beans have a distinctive feature: they have a smoked flavor. At the same time, the color of beans can vary depending on their variety: from dark burgundy to black.

Description of the species

Black beans have a lot of distinctive features, including their appearance and interesting taste. In addition, black beans are distinguished by their composition, which includes a huge amount of useful microelements and vitamins.

What does it look like?

The main distinguishing feature of this beans is its appearance, namely dark color. Otherwise, black beans are similar in appearance to white or red beans.

Compound

The beneficial properties of black beans are determined by its composition. It contains a large amount of vitamins, microelements, dietary fiber, which normalize various functions of the body.

Calories and nutritional value

One of the positive properties of black beans is their calorie content, which is calculated from the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Thus, this type of legume contains 25.3 percent proteins, 1.66 percent fats and 73.04 percent carbohydrates. Based on this, the total calorie content of beans is equal to 341 calories.

Interestingly, the composition of the protein in its structural qualities is as close as possible to the animal. Because of this, black beans are popular among vegetarians in cooking.

Vitamins, micro-, macroelements

Black beans are rich in minerals and vitamins. With regular use of this product, a person can receive the optimal amount of substances necessary for the full functioning of the body. This is due to the fact that such elements are contained in the following quantities:

• iron – 5.02 milligrams;
• phosphorus – 240.8 milligrams;
• zinc – 3.65 milligrams;
• magnesium – 120.4 milligrams.

These elements are found in black beans in maximum quantities, but they also contain other substances, which together form a list of 23 items.

These beans also contain vitamins:

• folic acid;
• phylloquinone;
• vitamin B6;
• nicotinic acid.

Black beans also contain many amino acids: arginine, lysine, glutamic acid. The unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids it contains contribute to the activation of lipid metabolic processes.

How is it useful?

Based on the results of a study of the nutritional and therapeutic value of the composition of this type of bean, it was found that it is the most useful plant product. Therefore, black beans are recommended as preventive measures to maintain heart function, to cleanse vascular walls of cholesterol, and to stimulate brain activity.

Also, regular use of this product helps strengthen the immune system, normalize digestive function, and allows for the prevention of oncological pathologies and type 2 diabetes. In addition to the indicated positive effects, it also helps improve the condition of the skin, hair, and nail plates.

For men

Black beans also have a beneficial effect on the male body. Due to the fact that this product contains zinc, men's health improves. In addition, beans improve sperm quality and prevent prostatitis.

For women

Beans are also beneficial for the female population. It neutralizes or significantly reduces the symptoms of menopause. Black beans also improve the condition of the skin, nail plates, and teeth.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

The legume product has special nutritional value during lactation, as it can improve the quality of mother's milk. With proper introduction of these legumes into the diet, it becomes possible to diversify a nursing woman’s food, as well as provide her milk with beneficial nutrients.

For the gastrointestinal tract

Proper consumption of this legume product also has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It helps improve digestion processes. But only if it is properly prepared. Before cooking, it should be soaked and then boiled for 1.5-2 hours. If you do not follow these recommendations, instead of improving digestion, a person may become poisoned.

For dieting and weight loss

This legume product stimulates metabolism and digestion, so it is often recommended for use in diets. It also helps cleanse the body of toxins.

For diabetes

This type of bean is actively used by patients with diabetes. Beans have gained such popularity due to their ability to lower blood sugar levels. Basically, a decoction or infusion made from beans is used for such purposes.

Contraindications

Before consuming these beans, you need to check for any contraindications:

• gastritis, ulcerative pathologies of the stomach;
• gout;
• flatulence.

Also, you should not use this product if you are intolerant to it.

Varieties

There are many varieties of black beans. The most popular of them are Kidney and Preto.

Kidney

This variety is distinguished by its medium-sized bush. Its grains are medium in size, black in color with a reddish tint. When eating beans, you may notice a bready smell.

Preto

This variety is also medium-sized. The grains have a black color, diluted with a whitish scar.The beans are characterized by medium size and a subtle berry aroma.

Growing and care

The cultivation of this legume product is carried out in the same way as any other variety. In this case, several rules must be taken into account:

• the crop needs to be provided with good lighting;
• It is better to plant on loose, fertile lands located on a hill;
• In the fall, the soil needs to be dug up and fertilized with rotted manure and compost.

You also need to ensure that no traces of diseases or pests appear on the plant.

Collection and storage

Only dried crops should be stored for storage. Otherwise, the product will quickly deteriorate. Fresh beans should be stored in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight. The harvest can also be preserved for the winter.

Pests and diseases

Growing beans can be damaged by aphids and mites. In addition to pests, plantings can also be affected by diseases. The most common types of mold found in plants are white mold, table mold, and root rot. The planting may also be subject to damping off.

Use in folk medicine

Black beans are widely used in folk medicine. Most often, infusions and decoctions are prepared on its basis.

Preparation of infusions

One of the most effective is the one prepared according to the instructions:

• 30 grams of beans, a small amount of blueberry leaves, chopped ginger, pour 1 liter of boiling water;
• the mixture is infused in a thermos for 16 hours;
• the liquid is filtered.

The medicine is taken before meals.

Decoctions

Bean decoctions are often used to lower blood sugar levels. The most effective ones are made from black beans.Also, such drugs have a diuretic effect, which helps combat the accumulation of fluid in the body.

Application in cosmetology

Regular consumption of this legume product has a beneficial effect on the skin, hair, nails, and teeth. Therefore, for cosmetic purposes, it is recommended to be used by those people who suffer from imperfections in appearance.

Preparation

To eliminate the possibility of poisoning, beans should be cooked properly. Heat treatment allows you to increase the degree of digestibility of beans by the body and eliminate toxins from its composition.

Soak?

Beans should be soaked before boiling. The duration must be at least 8 hours. It is better to leave the soaked product in the refrigerator overnight.

How to cook?

Beans should be boiled for 1.5-2 hours. In this case, after soaking, the water should be drained, the beans should be washed, filled with clean liquid and placed on the stove.

Puree "Hummus"

This dish is prepared according to the instructions:

1. 1.5 cups of beans are boiled until tender and transferred to a blender.
2. 1 clove of garlic, an onion head, half a dessert spoon of chili, paprika, cumin, turmeric, and the juice of half a lemon are also sent there.
3. Then 3 tablespoons of clean water are added to the mass, everything is crushed with a blender.

This puree is great for using in making sandwiches.

Black bean and buckwheat soup

To prepare this soup, you need to use the following instructions:

1. First of all, cook 2 cups of vegetable broth.
2. 300 grams of beans are boiled.
3. A tablespoon of olive oil is heated in a saucepan, then a third cup of chopped onion and half a cup of bell pepper are fried in it for 5 minutes.
4. Add 1 dessert spoon of chili and a quarter cup of buckwheat. Cover everything with a lid and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Broth is poured into the mixture, beans, a glass of corn, a glass of grated carrots, and a bay leaf are added. Everything is cooked for 3 minutes.
6. A couple of glasses of water, a little black and red pepper, and salt are poured into the soup. Everything is cooked for another 15 minutes, supplemented with chopped vegetables from the broth.

After 2 minutes, you can add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the soup and remove the container from the heat.

Black bean, pepper and tomato salad

To prepare a healthy salad, you need:

• chop 3 tomatoes, a bunch of celery, bell pepper;
• add 1.5 cups of cooked black beans to the mixture;
• season the salad with a mixture of 3 tablespoons of sour cream, salt, pepper, 100 grams of Salsa sauce.

Season the dish with sauce before serving.

Soup with beans and sausage

Prepare the dish according to the instructions:

1. Meat broth is being cooked.
2. Heat the oil in a saucepan, in which 1 clove of garlic and a bunch of green onions are fried.
3. Then add a can of corn, a kilogram of chopped tomatoes and 2 cups of broth. The liquid is brought to a boil.
4. Add 250 grams of salami and 1 cup of boiled beans to the soup. Cook everything for another 15 minutes over low heat.

After the soup is removed from the heat, add 2 stalks of marjoram, pepper and salt. When preparing these dishes, you should use only pre-cooked beans.