What Beans Are On The Mediterranean Diet?

Beans have become an important source of food on many diets. It is often low in calories, and there are plenty of nutritional benefits to having beans in your diet. However, you also need to understand which beans are the best to make the best of the diet.

Black beans and black-eyed peas are probably the most prevalent beans found on the Mediterranean diet. They can be mixed and combined with almost every meal, and they should not be that hard to come by. Lentils are another favorite, especially when you are looking to add some additional protein to the meal.

We have created this article to ensure that you make the best out of beans on your Mediterranean diet. The article should educate you on which beans are the best and which you have to avoid. It should be much easier to determine your diet and understand which beans will be the most useful when added to your diet.

Benefits Of Eating Beans

Before we show you which specific beans you might want to consume, you might want to look at some of the main benefits. The following benefits will help you improve your lifestyle and weight control when it comes to nutrition. Here are some of the main benefits that you will notice over time when consuming beans:

Protein

Beans can have plenty of protein in them. They might not compare to meat or fish in terms of protein, but they can add some additional protein to your meals. The protein from beans is vegan, which means they digest much faster. However, it would be best if you did not rely on them as your only source of protein in a day.

Antioxidants

The next important benefit is the antioxidants that you get from eating beans. They should have plenty of antioxidants that will ensure you can speed up your metabolism. Most beans are also packed with plenty of fiber, and the fiber content should ensure that you stay fuller for longer and help with weight control.

Reduce The Risk Of Cancer

While this point is often still debated, some proof suggests that eating plenty of beans can aid in cancer reduction. However, it is not the same for all beans, and you should not rely on it to completely reduce cancer cells.

Controlling Your Appetite

One of the main benefits of beans is the high level of fiber content. Having as much fiber is great for keeping you full for longer. It should not only reduce the number of calories you eat, but it can also help control some of the cravings.

Reduces The Risk Of Diabetes

Beans don’t have any sugar, which means that you can consume them on a large scale. They will significantly reduce the risk of diabetes and allow you to control cravings. Sugar cravings are some of the worst cravings you can deal with.

2 Beans You Can Eat On The Mediterranean Diet

Now that you have seen some of the benefits, you might want to consider looking at which beans would be best for your Mediterranean diet. We have selected a few of the best beans for your diet, and these are easy to add as well. Here are some of the best beans to add to the Mediterranean diet and why:

Black Beans

Black beans are probably one of the most common beans you can add to your diet. They have a good amount of protein, but they are also packed with fiber. They add some additional flavor to the meals, and they are low in calories. Adding black beans is simple, and they work with most recipes, including soups.

Black-Eyed Peas

Another American favorite is the black-eyed peas. Much like the black bean, these are tasty beans that can be added to a variety of dishes. They are also high in protein and contain plenty of fiber. While they will work when you add them to any dish, these beans tend to shine when adding them to salads.

However, it would be best if you always were moderate when adding black-eyed peas to your dishes. Consuming too much of them might cause you to feel bloated. Many people have also mentioned that it feels like the beans can often upset your stomach.

Which Beans Should You Avoid On The Mediterranean Diet

While many people think that there are beans that need to be avoided on the Mediterranean diet, this is not the case. Most beans, if not all of them, are safe. If you consume them as part of a healthy diet, there should not be any downsides to these beans. They should offer you plenty of benefits and ensure that you remain healthy.

We could not find any specific bean that people recommend people stay away from on the Mediterranean diet. The beans are a great source of protein and fiber, and many of them have other benefits. Regardless of your choice of beans, we would recommend that you eat any beans you can. However, it would be best if you did not overdo it. It is always best to remember that too much of a good thing is often a bad thing.