- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- recipes today articles
- recipes today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Dry Beans
Smart Fuel for Low-Carb Dieters
Although they may not know it, low-carb dieters have a powerful ally in the nutrient-dense dry bean. Loaded with fiber (a key contributor to weight loss) and other essential vitamins and minerals, beans have a clear edge over most other carbohydrate sources.
Experts at Michigan State University recently reviewed more than 25 years of research on the health benefits of dry beans. This research overwhelmingly identified dry beans as a powerful key to weight loss for three reasons: Eating beans is directly related to increased satiety; beans provide sustained energy; and eating beans can positively affect future food choices.
The term "dry beans" refers to both beans that are dry-packaged and those that are pre-cooked in cans, but does not include green beans, string beans or soybeans. Dry beans include varieties such as pinto, kidney, great northern, navy, lima, garbanzo and black beans.
"Fiber-rich foods provide bulk, which makes you feel full longer," says Fran Carlson, registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Bean Education and Awareness Network (B.E.A.N.). "Studies have shown that people who get ample fiber in their diet tend to have a healthier, lower weight than those who don't get enough fiber."
Just 1 cup of cooked beans can provide as much as 15 grams of dietary fiber, which is more than half of the 25 grams recommended daily for adults. Fiber, though nutritionally grouped as a carbohydrate, is what makes a specific food's net carb count lower.