Maybe we don't know beans...Greater media attention is being paid to the health benefits of beans and legumes, but how much do we really know about the topic?

摘要

News articles, cooking magazines, and science features are recommending beans for lowering cholesterol, improving glycemic control, increasing dietary fiber, and providing a gluten-free alternative to cereal grains. The trend is not surprising, giventhe rise in chronic disease incidence, consumer interest in functional foods, renewed interest in sustainable agriculture, and economic hard times. Beans can be part of the solution for many of these issues. Beans are a familiar and culturally importantfood, inexpensive, easy to prepare, and have great menu versatility. Yet, the scientific evidence to support many of these health claims is often generalized from a few original studies limited in scope and based on a few bean types. While the health benefits from beans are likely true, what remains unknown invites the question,"Just how much do we know about beans?"