Aaaaah, the Single Flatulence of It All!

How many times have you smiled when you opened up a can of beans because you knew that you wouldn’t embarrass yourself later. Who cares? Make all the noise you want and enjoy the benefits as well.

Let’s ponder the “power” of beans, as it's really something to make noise about. Kidney, black, navy, pinto, garbanzo, soybeans and lentils are low in fat, calories and sodium. High in fiber and the good carbs, they contain the Omega-6 fatty acids. Soybeans contain the Omega-3’s. Studies have shown that if you add either canned or dry beans to your diet, you can reduce blood cholesterol levels by 10 percent within just two to three weeks.

Kidney beans alone are a good source of folate, potassium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc, known to aid in lowering blood pressure. In a study of almost 10,000 men and women, those who ate beans four or more times a week, cut their risk of coronary heart disease by nearly 20 percent, compared with those who ate beans less than once per week.

Rich in soluble fiber, which helps to eliminate cholesterol from the body, kidney beans prevent blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal. The soluble fiber in beans takes up a lot of volume in the stomach which leads to a feeling of fullness, according to Dr. Ralph Felder, author of “The Bonus Years Diet”.

Beans and lentils have the same potent anti-inflammatory antioxidants, also found in teas, fruits, grapes, red wine and cocoa beans. It’s interesting to note that the reddish flavonal pigments in bean and lentil seed coats exert antioxidant activity 50 times greater than vitamin E. They can protect against oxidative damage to cell membrane lipids; promote healthy collagen and cartilage; and restore the antioxidant powers of vitamins C and E after they’ve won their war over the free radicals.

So, man the guns matey, release those toxins and reap the benefits. Yes, you still have to live with yourself and the smell, but aaaaah, the single flatulence of it all!