The Story of the Beans (frijoles)
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION :
Bean, seed or pod of certain leguminous plants of the family Fabaceae. ... Rich in protein and providing moderate amounts of iron, thiamin, and riboflavin, beans are used worldwide for cooking in either fresh or dried form. Phaseolus vulgaris, also known as the common bean and French bean, is a herbaceous annual plant grown worldwide for its edible dry seeds or unripe fruit (both commonly called beans). The common bean is a highly variable species with a long history. Bush varieties form erect bushes 20–60 cm (8–20 in) tall, while pole or running varieties form vines 2–3 m (7–10 ft) long. All varieties bear alternate, green or purple leaves, which are divided into three oval, smooth-edged leaflets, each 6–15 cm (2–6 in) long and 3–11 cm (1–4 in) wide. The white, pink, or purple flowers are about 1 cm long, and they give way to pods 8–20 cm (3–8 in) long and 1–1.5 cm wide. These may be green, yellow, black, or purple in color, each containing 4–6 beans. The beans are smooth, plump, kidney-shaped, up to 1.5 cm long, range widely in color, and are often mottled in two or more colors. Raw or undercooked beans contain a toxic protein called phytohaemagglutinin.
CULTIVATION IN SPAIN ANDALUSIA :
Cultivated in fertile Andalucian lands, sun-drenched and surrounded by water, there is no better place in Europe to grow beans and provide all the nutrients and health benefits. Especially keep cool to keep you the best sweet taste in your palate of flavors and mouth.
HISTORICAL ORIGIN :
Beans were an important source of protein throughout Old and New World history, and still are today. The oldest-known domesticated beans in the Americas were found in Guitarrero Cave, an archaeological site in Peru, and dated to around the second millennium BCE. Race Durango beans were cultivated in Mexico and the U.S.A. in pre-Columbian times. Kaplan (1965) reported that beans found at archaeological site in the southwestern U.S.A. were cultivated 2,300 years ago and that they likely originated from Mexico and Central America. New World settlers cultivated dry beans in the western U.S.A. from selections and landraces of small red, pink, pinto, and great northern beans that were cultivated by Native Americans or introduced from the semiarid highlands of Mexico. While the exact date of domestication for beans has not yet been determined, wild landraces have been discovered in archaeological sites dated to 10,000 years ago in Argentina and 7,000 years ago in Mexico. In Mesoamerica, the earliest cultivation of domestic common beans occurred before ~2500 in the Tehuacan valley (at Coxcatlan), 1300 BP in Tamaulipas (at (Romero's and Valenzuela's Caves near Ocampo), 2100 BP in the Oaxaca valley (at Guila Naquitz). Starch grains from Phaseolus were recovered from human teeth from Las Pircas phase sites in Andean Peru dated between ~6970-8210 RCYBP (about 7800-9600 calendar years before the present).
HEALTH BENEFITS :
Beans and legumes are some of the most underrated foods on the planet. They are excellent sources of dietary fiber, protein, B vitamins and many other important vitamins and minerals. There is good evidence that they can help reduce blood sugar, improve cholesterol levels and help maintain a healthy gut. Lots of Fiber, Plenty of Protein, Keeps You at a Healthy Weight, Boosts Your Heart Health, A Good Food for Diabetes Control, Great Source of Iron, Provides Magnesium, Chock-Full of Potassium, Loaded With Zinc, Scads of Folate ,Contains Resistant Starch. Health Benefit: Beans can prevent heart disease Studies have shown that people who eat more legumes have a lower risk of heart disease, and the phytochemicals found in beans might be partially to thank, since they protect against it. Health Benefit: Beans can fight cancer Beans contain a wide range of cancer-fighting plant chemicals, specifically, isoflavones and phytosterols which are associated with reduced risk of cancer. Health Benefit: Beans can lower cholesterol Beans provide the body with soluble fibre, which plays an important role in controlling blood cholesterol levels. Studies find that about 10 grams of soluble fibre a day—the amount in 1/2 to 1 1/2 cups of navy beans—reduces LDL cholesterol by about 10 per cent. Beans also contain saponins and phytosterols, which help lower cholesterol. Health Benefit: Beans can help you lose weight A serving of beans will help you feel full more quickly, because the rich fibre content fills your stomach and causes a slower rise in blood sugar. That should stave off hunger longer and give you a steady supply of energy. Health Benefit: Beans can help manage diabetes Beans are a diabetes sufferer’s superfood, so you shouldn’t overlook their health benefits! The balance of complex carbohydrates and protein provides a slow, steady source of glucose instead of the sudden surge that can occur after eating simple carbohydrates.
Comments