Use Your Bean

Ever had a colon polyp? Or never want to have one? Then order a mug of chili today.

The kidney and other dried beans in chili are stars of the USDA food pyramid for a reason: They help promote colon health and prevent colon polyp recurrence. Whether you get your beans in a flavorful minestrone, a spicy dip, or a zesty burrito, health food never tasted so good.

Getting Rid of the Gas
The fact that beans help thwart colon polyps is all well and good. But how can you prevent the gassy aftereffects that often come with beans? (Get relief for all your GI troubles with this quiz.) Here are some tips:

• Rinse canned beans before cooking or eating them.
• Pour off the soaking water for dry beans and use fresh for cooking.
• Increase bean consumption gradually.
• Offset the added fiber with plenty of fluids and exercise. (Here's a complete workout that takes only 20 minutes.)

Bean There, Done That
Colon health doesn't start and stop with eating beans, of course. You should also consider colon cancer screening. Here's everything you ever wanted to know about it but were too shy to ask.

Recipe Corner
Tonight, ladle up some healthy goodness with this Bean Bolognese recipe.

High dry bean intake and reduced risk of advanced colorectal adenoma recurrence among participants in the polyp prevention trial. Lanza, E. et al., Journal of Nutrition 2006 Jul;136(7):1896-1903.