Beans Need More Respect

I work hard at eating healthy.  I look for foods that are convenient, low cost and healthy.  Beans are foods that fit my criteria perfectly.  Beans are easy to add to soups and salads.  Beans are some of the healthiest foods around.  They are high in complex carbohydrates, protein and dietary fiber and low in fat, calories and sodium.  They are cholesterol-free.  They also contain omega-3 and many nutrients including thiamin, iron, folate, potassium, magnesium and B vitamins.

However, I don’t think beans get the respect they deserve.  Sure beans are found in some lists of “super-foods” when you do a web search.  But you typically don’t see them touted in many articles about healthy foods.  You see kale, blue berries, green tea, açaí, seaweed, pomegranates, quinoa and other foods. The more exotic the food is the better.  You’ll even see eggs, salmon and yogurt which I don’t think deserve super-food status since they have drawbacks like cholesterol, saturated fat or added sugar.

I think beans have a perception problem.  Beans are not seen as sexy or exotic.  Beans are seen as simply common and as a poor man’s substitute for meat.  Why do we need beans when we have meat?

I think we need to see beans as better than meat.  Although meat is a good source of protein, meat has a few problems.  High consumption of meat is associated with chronic ailments including heart disease, some types of cancer and diabetes.  The big problem with meat is that its protein comes along with a good helping of saturated fat.  Saturated fat is linked to high cholesterol levels and heart disease.

Beans are good.  Think of including some beans in your diet.

Here are some good links I found about beans when I was :

SuperfoodsRx: Has a good overview of beans

http://www.superfoodsrx.com/superfoods/beans/

American Diabetes Association -  Superfoods

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/diabetes-superfoods.html

Bicycling.com:  Cycling Nutrition - Magic Beans

http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/nutrition-weight-loss/cycling-nutrition-magic-beans

Walking Metaphorically

I like to walk.  Walking is a great activity because it is a catalyst for so many things and it can be done almost anywhere at anytime.  Walking can be done alone, with a friend or in a group.  Walking takes you places.

Walking opens the mind.  Walking stimulates thinking.  Walking is a good time to talk with a friend.  Walking is relaxing.  Walking is a good way to explore.  Walking is good for your health.  Walking is great with a dog.  Walking is a way to meet your neighbors.  Walking can be liberating.  Walking in the woods, wilderness or mountains can be spiritual.  Walking can be so many things.

The title of this blog is “Walking” because metaphorical walking is what I want to do with this blog.  I want this blog to be a walk: a catalyst of thinking, conversation and exploration.

Walk every day. Walk around your neighborhood.  Walk in a park.  Walk at a mall.  Walk through the woods.  Walk down the sidewalk.  Walk over the hills.  Walk through a meadow. Walk in the mountains.  Walk with your dog.  Walk with a friend.  Just walk to walk.  Let’s go for a walk.