Health Benefits of Lentils

Everyone knows there's no magical health food. But if you could find a food that could regulate blood sugar, help prevent heart disease and cancer, plus be dieter's dream, wouldn't you give it a try? Chances are, you already have - the forgotten can of beans in the back of your pantry is quite the healthy choice. Beans, whether dried, canned, frozen, or fresh provide big health benefits.

Legume Me?

Technically speaking, legume is the inclusive term which refers to beans, peas, and lentils, but often the term "bean" is used to describe the broad category. Unlike other foods, beans have the privilege of belonging to not one, but two sections of MyPyramid - the "meat and bean" and the "vegetable" sections both list beans. If you're looking to make a vegetarian substitution with beans, keep in mind that 1/4 cup of cooked beans, peas, or lentils is considered equivalent to 1 oz of meat. The protein in beans is about 15 grams per cup - more or less depending on the variety - except soybeans, which pack an impressive 29 grams per cup! Beans can add variety to your menu and break the meat monotony, without skimping on protein.