Useful and harmful properties of black beans for health, description of varieties
Any varieties of black beans are a healthy dish that is recommended to be introduced into the diet for people suffering from heart and circulatory system diseases, overweight, and diabetes. These beans have a distinctive feature: they have a smoked flavor. At the same time, the color of the beans may differ depending on its variety: from maroon to black.
Description of the species
Black beans have a lot of distinctive features, among which are its appearance, as well as 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 such beans is their appearance, namely a dark color. Otherwise, black beans are similar in appearance to white or red beans.
Composition
The beneficial properties of black beans are determined by their composition. It contains a large amount of vitamins, trace elements, dietary fiber, which normalize various functions of the body.
Calorie content 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. So, this type of legumes contains 25.3 percent of proteins, 1.66 - fats and 73.04 - carbohydrates. Based on this, the total calorie content of the beans equates to 341 calories.
It is interesting that the composition of the protein in its structural qualities is as close as possible to the animal. Because of this, black beans are popular with vegetarians.
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 the maximum amount in black beans, but there are other substances in its composition, 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 fatty unsaturated and polyunsaturated acids included in its composition promote the activation of lipid metabolic processes.
How is it useful?
According to the results of research on 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 a preventive measure to maintain the functions of the heart, to cleanse the vascular walls of cholesterol, to activate brain activity.
Also, regular use of this product helps to strengthen the immune system, normalize the digestive function, and allows for the prevention of the appearance of oncological pathologies, type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition to the indicated positive effect, it also helps to 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, there is an improvement in men's health. In addition, beans improve sperm quality and prevent prostatitis.
For women
Beans are also good for the female population. It neutralizes or significantly reduces the manifestations of menopause. Also, black beans improve the condition of the skin, nail plates, teeth.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding
The legume product has a special nutritional value during lactation, as it can improve the quality of mother's milk. With the correct introduction of these legumes into the diet, it becomes possible to diversify the food of a nursing woman, as well as endow her milk with the most useful nutrients.
For the digestive tract
The correct use of this legume product has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract. It helps to improve digestion processes. But only if it is properly prepared. Before cooking, it must be soaked, and then boiled for 1.5-2 hours. If you do not adhere to these recommendations, instead of improving digestion, a person may be poisoned.
For dieting and losing weight
This bean product stimulates metabolism and digestion, so it is often recommended for diets. It also helps cleanse the body of toxins.
With diabetes mellitus
This type of beans is actively used by patients with diabetes mellitus. Beans 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 must check the absence of contraindications:
- gastritis, gastric ulcer pathologies;
- gout;
- flatulence.
Also, you cannot use such a product if you have an intolerance to it.
Varieties
There are many varieties of black beans. The most popular of these are Kidney and Preto.
Kidney
This variety is distinguished by the average height of the bush. Its grains are medium in size, black in color with a reddish tint. When eating the beans, you may notice the smell of bread.
Preto
This variety is also medium-sized. The grains are black in color, diluted with a whitish scar. The beans are medium-sized, with a fine berry aroma.
Growing and care
The cultivation of this legume is carried out in the same way as any other of its varieties. In this case, several rules must be taken into account:
- the culture needs 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, fertilized with rotted manure, compost.
You also need to ensure that traces of diseases and pests do not appear on the plant.
Collection and storage
Only dried crops should be stored for storage. Otherwise, the product will quickly deteriorate. Store fresh beans in a cool, dry place out of the sun. Also, the crop can be preserved for the winter.
Pests and diseases
The grown beans can be damaged by aphids and mites. In addition to pests, plantings can be affected by diseases. Most often, plants have white mold, table mold, root rot. Also, planting can be exposed to damping.
Application in traditional medicine
Black beans are widely used in traditional medicine. Most often, infusions, decoctions are prepared on its basis.
Preparation of infusions
One of the most effective is the one that is prepared according to the instructions:
- 30 grams of beans, a small amount of blueberry foliage, 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 infusions are often used to lower blood sugar levels. The most effective ones are made from black bean pods. Also, such drugs have a diuretic effect, which allows you to fight against the accumulation of fluid in the body.
Application in cosmetology
Regular use of this bean product has a beneficial effect on the skin, hair, nails, teeth. Therefore, for cosmetic purposes, it is recommended to use it for those people who suffer from imperfections in appearance.
Preparation
To eliminate the possibility of poisoning, the beans must be properly cooked. Heat treatment allows you to increase the digestibility of beans by the body, to eliminate toxins from its composition.
Soak?
Beans should be soaked before boiling. The duration should be at least 8 hours. It is best 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, rinsed the beans, filled with clean liquid and placed on the stove.
Puree "Hummus"
This dish is prepared according to the instructions:
- 1.5 cups of beans are boiled until tender and transferred to a blender.
- 1 garlic clove, an onion head, half a dessert spoon of chili, paprika, cumin, turmeric, juice of half a lemon are also sent there.
- Then 3 tablespoons of pure water are added to the mass, everything is crushed with a blender.
This puree is perfect for making sandwiches.
Black bean and buckwheat soup
To prepare such a soup, you need to use the instructions:
- The first step is to cook 2 cups of vegetable broth.
- Boiled 300 grams of beans.
- A tablespoon of olive oil is heated in a saucepan, then a third of a glass of chopped onions and half a glass of bell pepper are fried in it for 5 minutes.
- 1 dessert spoon of chili, a quarter of a glass of buckwheat is poured there. Everything is covered with a lid and stewed for 5 minutes.
- Broth is poured into the mass, beans, a glass of corn, a glass of shabby carrots, a bay leaf are poured. Everything is cooked for 3 minutes.
- A couple of glasses of water, a little black and red pepper, salt are poured into the soup. Everything is cooked for another 15 minutes, complemented by chopped vegetables from the broth.
After 2 minutes, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the soup and remove the container from the heat.
Black bean, pepper and tomato salad
To make a healthy salad, you need:
- chop 3 tomatoes, a bunch of celery, bell pepper;
- add 1.5 cups of cooked black beans to the mass;
- 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.
Bean and sausage soup
The dish is prepared according to the instructions:
- Meat broth is brewed.
- Oil warms up in a saucepan, in which 1 clove of garlic, a bunch of green onions are fried.
- Then a can of corn, a kilogram of chopped tomatoes and 2 glasses of broth are poured into the same place. The liquid is brought to a boil.
- 250 grams of salami, 1 cup of boiled beans are added to the soup. Everything is cooked for another 15 minutes over low heat.
After the soup is removed from the heat, 2 stalks of marjoram, pepper and salt are added to it. During the preparation of these dishes, use only pre-cooked beans.
