Black Bean

See also : Beans
Other names : turtle beans, Black Turtle beans, Phaselous vulgaris, frijol negro, zaragoza, poroto negro, caraota o habichuela negra in Spanish, feijão preto, Castanospermum australe and the vegetable is also known as the Moreton Bay Chestnut.
Black beans were first domesticated thousands of years ago in Peru, and quickly became a staple of the South American diet. They first came to Europe when explorers came home with them in the 1500s. Black beans, along with navy, kidney and pinto beans, belong to the group commonly called as “common beans”. This is because all of them have been derived from a common bean ancestor, which originated in Peru.

Special Precautions of Black Bean

• Toxicity : Beans generally contain phytohaemagglutinin, a lectin that occurs naturally in plants, animals, and humans. Most of the relatively low toxin concentrations found in V. faba can be destroyed by boiling the beans for 10 minutes.
• Broad beans are rich in levodopa, and should thus be avoided by those taking irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors to prevent a pressor response.
• Foods with high concentrations of lectins, such as beans, cereal grains, seeds, nuts, and potatoes, may be harmful if consumed in excess in uncooked or improperly cooked form. Adverse effects may include nutritional deficiencies, immune (allergic) reactions and inflammation.
• Black beans contain purines that, if taken excessively, can cause health related problems for people sensitive to the latter. Purines can be broken down to form uric acid, which if accumulated excessively, leads to gout and formation of kidney stones. However, research has found that purines from meat and fish are more dangerous than those in black beans.
• Black beans contain polyphenols, which have certain negative aspects. For instance, the polyphenols tannin can bind some of the protein and iron supplied by the beans. This prevents the absorption of these nutrients by the body. However, this effect is minimized if one takes a varied diet, getting protein and iron from varied sources.

Benefits and uses of Black Bean are

• Black beans are rich in fiber, which helps in lowering cholesterol. The soluble fiber content also helps in preventing the rapid rise of blood sugar level after the meal. In other words, the beans provide steady energy, while balancing the blood sugar level. Due to this health aspect, they make an excellent food for people suffering from diabetes, insulin resistance and hypoglycemia.
• rich in the trace mineral molybdenum, which forms a principal part of the enzyme sulfite oxidase. This helps in detoxifying sulfites, the preservatives commonly used in prepared foods like salads. If sulfites are consumed in excess by people sensitive to them, they may experience rapid heartbeat, headache or disorientation. In such cases, black beans prove highly helpful, as just a cup of it contains around 172.0% of the daily value of molybdenum.
• Combination of black beans and brown rice is rich in fat-free, high quality protein. The protein content in black beans is comparable to that of meat or dairy foods.
• The dietary fibers present in black beans make it a healthy food for the people suffering from irregular glucose metabolism, diabetes and hypoglycemia.
• Black beans contain insoluble fiber, which prevents constipation and also increases the stool bulk. Several digestive disorders, like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis, can also be cured by the insoluble fiber present in black beans.
• contains antioxidant anthocyanins, which are richly found in only some other fruits, like grapes, cranberries and oranges.
• The beans can help you fight against cancer. They can also help in fighting against the effects of ageing.
• Black beans play a great role in bringing down the death rate caused by coronary heart disease. It is not just the fiber, but also the folate and magnesium present in these beans that makes them heart-benefit food. Folate helps in keeping down the level of amino acid called homocysteine, which is an intermediate product in the methylation cycle. Magnesium helps in reducing resistance and improves blood, oxygen and nutrients flow in the veins and arteries.
• contain polyphenols, which proves beneficial for those with complains of elevated cholesterol. Polyphenols act as antioxidants in the bloodstream, preventing the free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol.
• can provide ample iron to the body. This is wanted especially in case of menstruating women, who are at the risk of iron deficiency. Unlike red meat, which is another a good source of iron, black beans are low in calories and fat-free. Due to their rich iron content, they are also very good for pregnant women, growing children and adolescents.
• The manganese element present in black beans help in energy production and also acts as an antioxidant defense.
• Black bean broth: Treatment for arthritis, gout and joint pain