Maybe they’re called "magical fruit" in children’s rhymes for a reason . . .
Just not for the flatulence-producing reasons kids obsess about. What
really makes beans magical is their potential effect on your waistline: Bean eaters weigh less on average than non-bean-imbibing folks do.
Bean Counting
In fact, bean eaters weigh as much as 6.6 pounds less, according to RealAge expert John La Puma, MD, author of
ChefMD's Big Book of Culinary Medicine.
(Browse the book online.)
Makes sense when you consider beans are full of fiber and protein but low in fat, which means a serving will keep you going far beyond the need-to-munch hour but only make a minor dent in your calorie intake.
(Find out which kind of bean packs the biggest antioxidant punch.)
Recipe Corner
Beans are anything but boring if you try these tasty, bean-filled recipes from
EatingWell:
Video: Learn how to make your own white bean hummus.
This tip originally ran on 7/28/2008.
RealAge Benefit: Maintaining a constant desirable weight can make your RealAge 6 years younger.
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