Why We Should Eat Beans Every Day — and Which Are the Healthiest

They grow worldwide and are good for the planet, enriching the soil they sprout from with nitrogen while emitting fewer greenhouse gases and requiring significantly less land and water per gram of protein than any animal source. Thanks to enormous diversity, more than 400 varieties are used in culinary contexts, some of which are gorgeous to boot.

Yet fewer than 20% of Americans eat the daily half cup of beans recommended by health authorities, and in the UK more than 40% of the population eat no beans at all. Crucially, they are healthy – with a capital “H”. What makes them so? And should we make room for more beans in our diet?

Editor’s note: It goes without saying, choose organic: “EWG tests conducted in 2020 found glyphosate in 60%of conventional bean and lentil samples and more than 80% of conventional hummus and chickpea samples.”