7 Health Benefits of the Humble, Affordable Legume

One of the many side effects of rising food prices is that many feel that healthy eating becomes more difficult. How can we meet our daily nutritional needs without draining our grocery budget? Fortunately, healthy eating and saving money don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

To provide an example of a versatile, healthy, and affordable food that is often overlooked as a staple in many diets, let’s take a look at an unassuming nutritional powerhouse: beans. At only about $1 per can (which provides roughly 3-4 servings) or $1 per pound dried, beans are the fiber- and protein-packed resource your wallet is craving.

Keep reading to explore the health benefits of beans and practical meal ideas to answer the question: are beans good for you?

The Identity Crisis: Are Beans Protein or Carbs?

Because of the versatility of beans, it’s very common to wonder, “Are beans carbs or protein?” They’re used as both a base and a side, a topping and a starch. So which are they, a carbohydrate or a protein-rich food? The answer: beans are both. This property of being both protein- and fiber-rich is what makes beans so special.