Black Beans as Brain Food
It’s a good thing that my almost-four-year-old son, Nicholas, enjoys black beans as much as he does, especially since they are considered one of the Top 10 Brain Foods. In addition to being good for your mind, Science News also reports that it is invaluable in warding off heart disease. As one of the World’s Healthiest Foods, I can’t say I’m surprised.
Beans contain numerous nutrients known to ward off heart disease, says Campos. “It’s a very good package in terms of a single food,” she says. Like other legumes, black beans contain folate, magnesium, alpha-linolenic acid, vitamin B6, and fiber. Beans make up a large portion of Costa Ricans’ intake of these protective nutrients. For instance, beans make up 25 percent of their total fiber and 17 percent of their folate consumption, says study coauthor Edmond Kabagambe, also of Harvard.
Now that you know that you should be eating this magical bean, what recipe to use? One of our new favorite ways to eat black beans is with this dip from Coastal Living magazine - it’s so good you won’t even notice you’re eating healthy food. Enjoy!
Black Bean Dip
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup olive oil
1-1/2 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp lime juice
dash of hot sauce
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
Mix in food processor and serve with chips or your favorite raw vegetables.
