Wednesday, January 3, 2018

By Jessica King


Chili is a family favorite and great for casual entertaining. It's nice to know that this dish, easy to prepare and fun to make on weekends for quick meals-on-the-go during the week, can also be a really healthy choice. When you follow a black bean beef chili recipe, you create a meal packed with nutrition.

Black beans are native to North and South America, but are now found all over the world. They are small, tasty legumes with many health benefits. They are packed with minerals, phytonutrients, bioflavanoids, and fiber. They are considered 'good carbs', being lower on the glycemic scale than many other legumes.

With seventy percent of its calories in the form of 'carbs', you'd think this would be a food to limit or to avoid. However, its carbs are what is called 'resistant', meaning 'hard to digest'. Rather than breaking down in the stomach, they pass on to the large intestine. There isn't a quick delivery of glucose to the bloodstream, so there's no insulin spike even though the meal is carbohydrate rich. The legumes nourish the large intestine, as well as enhancing total digestion by providing a lot of fiber.

Several highly beneficial phytonutrients are found in the bean's seedcoat. The flavanoid content, which gives the deep, dark color, is similar to red onions, red cabbage, and blueberries. Black beans also contain antioxidants such as anthocyanins and quercetin, benficial for eye health and immunity against allergens. The beans are known to lower 'bad' cholesterol.

Beans in general are a good source of minerals and protein. This particular variety of legume is considered a valuable source of zinc, which is necessary for everyone and especially valuable for men. Black beans, like other kinds of seeds, do contain phytates, which can bind minerals and make them hard to absorb, but research shows that the zinc in these beans is boiavailable. Phytates are believed to have an antioxidant action in the body, as well.

These small, flavorful beans work in any recipe. Merely substitute them for red kidney, white, or pinto beans. Canned beans can be added directly, but dried beans should be rinsed and culled. Many people like to presoak them to make them more digestible. Just cover them with cold water and allow them to stand overnight. For faster cooking, bring them to a boil, remove from heat, and allow to stand until the beans are tender. You can use the soaking water for the final dish or pour it off and just use the beans.

Great chili starts with sauteed onions and well browned beef, either ground or cut into cubes. Add pre-soaked or canned beans, garlic, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes with their liquid. Add chili powder (try organic for stronger, fresher flavor), cumin, oregano, salt, and any other seasonings you like. It's best to wait until serving to add black pepper, to preserve its antioxidant value. Add fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, and/or sour cream before serving, if you like.

Use black beans for their great taste and their nutritional benefits. Chili is only one of the great dishes you can make. Try these nutritious legumes in soups, salads, dips, and tacos. Enjoy.




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