Why Beans Can Help You Lose Weight 2
Fiber is a substance severely lacking in most people’s diets. Men need at least 30-38 grams each day and women 21-25 grams. Eat one cup of cooked beans, which has almost 12 grams, and you’ve come a long way towards meeting that need for the day. Meat doesn’t contain fiber, even though it does have other nutrients the body needs.

Fiber helps keep you regular, feel full, and promotes overall digestive health. It helps relieve constipation, which is believed to be a contributing factor in colon cancer. Fiber also helps regulate blood sugar, important for people concerned about diabetes.

Beans also contain the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) which is necessary for the gastrointestinal system to work properly. It is needed to stimulate the system when digesting proteins and fats and is needed for the gall bladder and pancreas to function. Some reports state the CCK also acts as a hunger suppressant which would explain why beans make you feel full.

Recent studies have had groups of test subjects eat the same things, except for the addition of beans to one group’s diet. Scientists found the people who had eaten the beans weighed up to seven pounds less than those who didn’t eat them. They also noted the difference in the calories from the foods eaten. Because beans were added to their diets, those subjects were able to eat more calories and still maintain the benefits of lower weight and slimmer waists.

Which beans should you eat? The U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests eating small red beans and red kidney beans to get the most antioxidants. You may also want to add black beans, navy beans, and black-eyed peas so you’ll have a variety of beans to choose from.

Bananas may be called the “perfect” food, but it’s not the only one. Beans provide a great source of protein and fiber which are so important for people trying to lose weight. They also contain antioxidants and cholecystokinin which is why beans are good for losing weight and for good health. Finally, the fiber helps you feel regular and promotes good digestion. All the protein in beans is from a non-animal source, and is not genetically modified, and will be hormone free.

So pound for pound, beans are a great way to lose weight. Why not try a meatless chili or tex-mex meal today, and see how great you feel, and watch your weight go down at the same time.