Ellen White kept a garden and loved growing beans, peas, and lentils in it. She served beans for her family at every meal, “well cooked with a little salt and a tablespoonful of sugar, which makes them more palatable” as she understood their health benefits and used them as a protein rich replacement for meat.
Beans are a staple in the typical SDA diet and are one of the reasons we live longer, healthier lives than most. Beans are packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, are low in fat, contain healthy starches, are very filling, and are very inexpensive. A pound of pinto beans currently can cost $1.25, while a pound of lean ground beef costs at least $5.00. Beans are members of the family of legumes (which also includes green peas, lentils, and chickpeas), and legumes are a major part of all Blue Zone diets.
In each of the five Blue Zone communities, beans and legumes are integral components in the daily diet. When eaten regularly (2 or more times a week), they can reduce your risks for heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes and can help stabilize blood sugar levels. They promote a feeling of fullness and stomach-filling satisfaction, which curbs overeating. They also enhance gut and immune system health. And if cooked correctly, they taste wonderfully delicious.