A pot of beans cooking on the stove brightens a home with a feeling of comfort, an assurance that satisfying good food is near. Beans with whole grain provide complete protein and an almost perfect array of nutrients needed to thrive. Generally, the bean’s role as fundamental nourishment is underappreciated in the United States. They are relatively easy to grow, affordable, and highly beneficial to soil and environmental dynamics. The 40,000 bean varieties in seed banks show a remarkable variety of tastes, colors, and shapes. Commercial cultivation is fairly limited these days with about two dozen kinds to be found. There are about 400 varieties grown in over 150 countries today.
Versatile / Interchangeable
Two main categories of beans are light and dark seed coats. The term “white beans” generally means Great Northern, Navy, Baby Lima (or Butter) beans, and White Kidney (or Cannellini). There are many other light or ivory-skinned beans in the category, as well. While each is unique, their mild taste and texture make them interchangeable in most recipes. The same is true of colored beans like Pinto, Black, Red Kidney, Small Reds, Aduki, and Spotted. They are deliciously interchangeable in making soup, chili, bean fillings, and rice & beans that are used in Tex-Mex, Caribbean, Latin, Cajun, and Creole dishes.
Look Good, Feel Great
Beans are astonishingly good food with antioxidant flavonoid anthocyanins & polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, stupendous protein, and complex carbs. The amino acids lysine and tryptophan in beans perfectly complement whole grain to provide complete protein. Highly soluble fiber helps to regulate blood sugar and lower cholesterol, while the insoluble fiber aids the intestines, controls appetite, and assists weight management. Beans contain a wealth of antioxidants similar to those in fruits and berries.
“Beans are really loaded with antioxidant compounds. We didn’t know how potent they were until now,” says Clifford Beninger, Ph.D., an environmental biologist and former researcher for the USDA’s Bean Research Unit. “In general, darker colored seed coats were associated with higher levels of flavonoids, and therefore higher antioxidant activity.” Researchers tested the antioxidant activity of flavonoids found in 12 common varieties of dry beans. The anthocyanin compounds were the most active antioxidants in beans. The findings added antioxidant activity to a growing list of benefits in beans. The study was published in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
George L. Hosfield, Ph.D., a plant geneticist, told Reuters Health, “Beans are probably the best human plant food there is. With the additional bonus of their antioxidants, you have almost the perfect food.” He explained that beans are full of protein and fiber, low in fat, and contain important vitamins and minerals like folic acid B9, iron, potassium, and zinc, while providing steady energy with complex carbohydrates.
Essential Variety
Bean dishes are paramount in every culture outside of the Arctic. A varied, balanced diet that includes bean protein is a requisite for food security and a good healthy life. Certain cooking styles, techniques, and seasonings heighten bean benefits. Spice and herb seasonings in bean dishes deliver complementary phytonutrients that aid digestion, soothe, comfort, and energize their taste. Spicy, sour, pungent, and savory tastes add and enhance complementary protective antioxidants. They also stimulate appetite and enliven the mood. Two common bean spices renowned for health benefits are turmeric, known as a liver tonic, and cayenne pepper, known to help burn fat. Seasonings like sea salt, miso, and soy sauce add nutrients and flavor while bringing out the natural sweetness of beans. An intelligent, intuitive blend of herb, spice, and seasoning is an art of balance, enhancement, and deep satisfaction.
Heat, Stir, and Serve
There are five kinds of EDEN Seasoned Beans, each with skillfully chosen ingredients. EDEN Lentils w/Onion and Bay Leaf are green lentils cooked in a savory organic medley. EDEN Baked Beans w/Sorghum and Mustard are organic navy beans and pure organic sweet sorghum in a classic New England recipe. EDEN Spicy Pinto Beans are thoroughly pressure cooked in savory tomato sauce seasoned with all-organic spices, chili peppers, and jalapeños. EDEN Chili Beans are dark red kidney beans pressure cooked in an organic garlic, onion, jalapeño, and red chili tomato sauce. EDEN Caribbean Black Beans are seasoned with traditional island spices.
EDEN Seasoned Beans make quick, easy meals table-ready in minutes. Just heat, stir, and serve as a side or use them as a starter for soup, stew, casserole, barbeque beans, chili, tacos, burritos, quesadilla, bean dips, chili cornbread pie, and so many other favorites.
Purely Delicious
EDEN Seasoned Beans (all EDEN beans) are USA organic family grown, soaked overnight (we know of no one else that does this commercially), and thoroughly pressure cooked at Eden’s organic, kosher cannery with purified water, EDEN Sea Salt, Soy Sauce, and only non-irradiated organic Herbs and Spices. EDEN Beans pioneered BPA, BPS, and phthalate free cans. EDEN Seasoned Beans provide double the flavor of other brands, half the sodium, and never any FDA-allowed chemical processing aids. Enrich life with a variety of Pure & Purifying organic EDEN Seasoned Beans.
