What Are Legumes?

With the cost of groceries increasing, some people in Chamblee, GA, feel they can’t afford to eat healthily. That’s just not true. While lean, organic beef has a high price, a bag of pulses from legumes is cheaper than a bag of potato chips. The pulses are the part of the legume you eat. It’s the bag of beans, soy nuts, or black-eyed peas. You can purchase them in a can or dried in a bag and reconstitute them.

Navy beans are just an example of the bargain nutrition you’ll get.

A one-pound package of dried navy beans costs about $1.50 and makes 6 cups or 12 servings. That’s $0.12 ½ per serving. Each half-cup serving has 128 calories, 0.6 g fat, no sodium, 23.7g carbohydrates, 9.6 g fiber, 0.3g sugar, 354 mg potassium, and 7.5g of protein. The high fiber content gives them a low glycemic index ranking, so they’re a good choice for diabetics. They provide folate, iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium. Navy beans are also heart healthy, improve cognitive functioning, support weight loss, lower the risk of diabetes, improve gut health, and boost muscle growth and development.

What are the various types of legumes?

You probably know that beans are legumes, but did you know that there are many types of beans? The ones most people buy besides navy beans include kidney beans, black-eyed beans, pinto beans, cannellini, chickpeas, split peas, fava, and pigeon beans. Lentils are also part of the legume family. Besides red, green, brown, and yellow lentils, puy and beluga lentils are popular. Other popular legumes include soybeans, peanuts, and green peas. These aren’t called pulses but are the fruit of the legume.

Besides saving money, legumes can be beneficial for your diet.

If you’re trying to lose weight, think beans! The fiber and protein will fill you and help reduce the risk of insulin resistance. Black-eyed peas, black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas are especially beneficial. Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, have a high fiber content. Make hummus from them for a healthy dip for veggies. They all provide benefits that can slim you down while making your wallet fatter.

• Black-eyed peas increase cholecystokinin levels in the body. Cholecystokinin is a hormone that aids in appetite suppression. The fiber slows the glucose entering the bloodstream and the cholecystokinin tells you that you’re full sooner.
• Black beans are considered a superfood. They contain no saturated fat, which allows the body to absorb maximum protein. You’ll have the nutrition to build muscle tissue, and the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism is.
• Not only are kidney beans good for weight loss, but they’re also beneficial for reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure. The best results occur if you eat four servings a week.
• Lentils come in a variety of tastes and textures, but they all have similar health benefits. They’re known as natural metabolism boosters. Eating lentils can help increase the calories you burn 24/7.

For more information, contact us today at Thrive Fitness Atlanta