Upgrade your meals with these nutritious beans
What's the story
African beans are a staple in most vegetarian diets, providing a rich source of nutrients and versatility in cooking. Not only do these beans provide essential proteins, but they also come packed with vitamins and minerals that promote overall health. Incorporating these beans into your meals can enhance nutritional intake and add variety to your diet. Here, we explore five essential African beans to create nutrient-rich vegetarian dishes.
Drive 1
Black-eyed peas: A protein powerhouse
Black-eyed peas are famous for being high in protein, making them a perfect option for vegetarians to meet their daily protein intake. They are also high in fiber, which promotes digestion and helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Black-eyed peas also have high amounts of folate and iron, which help with energy production and the formation of red blood cells.
Drive 2
Bambara groundnuts: Nutrient-dense legumes
Bambara groundnuts are known for their nutrient density, providing a balanced combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The legumes are especially rich in calcium and magnesium, minerals that are important for bone health. They also offer antioxidants that protect the body from oxidative stress. You can boil or roast Bambara groundnuts to enhance flavor and nutrition in various dishes.
Drive 3
Cowpeas: Versatile cooking ingredient
Cowpeas are versatile legumes that find their use in African cuisine. Not only are they used in numerous ways, but they also provide a good source of plant-based protein as well as dietary fiber, which aids in digestive health. Cowpeas also contain vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin C, which help with immunity as well as skin health.
Drive 4
Lentils: Quick-cooking nutrition boosters
Lentils are arguably the best quick-cooking legumes. They are packed with high protein and low-fat content. Lentils are high in B vitamins such as folate and thiamine, which help metabolism processes in the body, and give iron which is required to carry oxygen through blood cells.
Drive 5
Mung beans: Low-calorie nutritional option
Mung beans are a low-calorie, nutrient-rich option, providing potassium which aids heart function by regulating blood pressure. They also keep sodium chloride balance in the body, ensuring all systems are performing optimally during consumption. This makes them a great addition to any dietary regimen, offering all-round nutritional benefits.