Eat beans regularly for beautiful skin
MANY people think eating beans regularly is a sign of low social status. No wonder beans are sometimes referred to as the ‘poor man’s meat’. <br>Recently, I overheard two young men in a restaurant debating what food to order.
By A. Kyotalengerire
MANY people think eating beans regularly is a sign of low social status. No wonder beans are sometimes referred to as the ‘poor man’s meat’.
Recently, I overheard two young men in a restaurant debating what food to order.
One of them said: “I cannot enter a restaurant and order for beans, unless I do not have enough money.â€
However, many who have eaten a dish of beans can confess that they have left the dining table yearning for more.
Besides being tasty, beans are very nutritious. Richard Ssenviiri, a nutritionist with Healthy Snack at Garden City, says beans are rich in proteins.
“Their protein content varies between 21% and 24%. This is greater than that in animal-based foods,†he says.
Ssenviiri adds that beans are also rich in vegetable fibre. “One hundred grammes of dry beans provide 15.2g of fibre, more than half the recommended dietary allowance (for an adult).
He says the fibre prevents constipation and lowers blood cholesterol levels.
Beans, he says, are nutritious and energy-providing foods, if they are combined with grains or protein sources.
David Ssali, a naturopathic with Dama Medical Herbs, says besides the nutritive properties, beans prevent skin disorders.
“They are a good source of Niacin (vitamin B3) and Pantothenic, which are essential for a healthy and beautiful skin,†Ssali says.
He says due to their nutritious value, beans are recommended for people with eczema, itching skin, dry skin, skin allergies and general dermatosis.
Eating beans also benefits the hair follicles. They are recommended for people suffering from hair loss and dandruff.
Eating beans regularly also helps keep cholesterol levels within acceptable limits. According to the encyclopedia of foods and their healing power by George .D. Pamplona-Rogers, M.D, an experiment carried out in the US demonstrated that eating 120g of beans a day for three weeks lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels by 10%â€.
This is due to their fibre content (15.2%) which scours cholesterol and its precursors (biliary salt) from the intestines and prepares their excretion with faeces.
“Beans are also recommended for people with constipation and colon and rectal cancers due to their high cellulose fibre content,†explains Ssali.
He says beans are ideal for those with high blood pressure because they are low in sodium and high in potassium.
However, Ssali advises that beans be eaten in moderation by those who have a propensity to flatulence (excessive amount of gas in the stomach and intestines) and intestinal fermentation.
MANY people think eating beans regularly is a sign of low social status. No wonder beans are sometimes referred to as the ‘poor man’s meat’.
Recently, I overheard two young men in a restaurant debating what food to order.
One of them said: “I cannot enter a restaurant and order for beans, unless I do not have enough money.â€
However, many who have eaten a dish of beans can confess that they have left the dining table yearning for more.
Besides being tasty, beans are very nutritious. Richard Ssenviiri, a nutritionist with Healthy Snack at Garden City, says beans are rich in proteins.
“Their protein content varies between 21% and 24%. This is greater than that in animal-based foods,†he says.
Ssenviiri adds that beans are also rich in vegetable fibre. “One hundred grammes of dry beans provide 15.2g of fibre, more than half the recommended dietary allowance (for an adult).
He says the fibre prevents constipation and lowers blood cholesterol levels.
Beans, he says, are nutritious and energy-providing foods, if they are combined with grains or protein sources.
David Ssali, a naturopathic with Dama Medical Herbs, says besides the nutritive properties, beans prevent skin disorders.
“They are a good source of Niacin (vitamin B3) and Pantothenic, which are essential for a healthy and beautiful skin,†Ssali says.
He says due to their nutritious value, beans are recommended for people with eczema, itching skin, dry skin, skin allergies and general dermatosis.
Eating beans also benefits the hair follicles. They are recommended for people suffering from hair loss and dandruff.
Eating beans regularly also helps keep cholesterol levels within acceptable limits. According to the encyclopedia of foods and their healing power by George .D. Pamplona-Rogers, M.D, an experiment carried out in the US demonstrated that eating 120g of beans a day for three weeks lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels by 10%â€.
This is due to their fibre content (15.2%) which scours cholesterol and its precursors (biliary salt) from the intestines and prepares their excretion with faeces.
“Beans are also recommended for people with constipation and colon and rectal cancers due to their high cellulose fibre content,†explains Ssali.
He says beans are ideal for those with high blood pressure because they are low in sodium and high in potassium.
However, Ssali advises that beans be eaten in moderation by those who have a propensity to flatulence (excessive amount of gas in the stomach and intestines) and intestinal fermentation.