Step 7: Eat a Serving of Beans Once a Day
The 7th and final step of Clean Cuisine’s Natural Detox is deliciously satisfying…simply eat one serving of beans every day (check out our tasty “bean cuisine” recipes at the bottom of the page!) I can tell you one thing nothing fills you up faster than fiber-rich, protein-packed beans. Beans are a key component of our Clean Cuisine Natural Detox for several important reasons…
Beans are a Super Clean Source of Protein
Whether they are organically raised or not, animal foods contain considerably more toxins than protein-rich plant foods such as beans simply because animal foods are higher up on the food chain—the higher up on the food chain you go the greater the chance of acquiring more toxins found in the environment. In comparison to all animal foods, beans provide a super “clean” and economical source of protein. If you are already reducing your consumption of animal foods as per recommended in [intlink id=”9747″ type=”post”]Step 2 of our Natural Detox[/intlink] , then replacing one animal food per day with super protein-rich beans is a great way to reduce toxins while still giving your body the protein it needs to repair itself. Note: One-half cup of beans provides approximately 7 grams of protein.
Beans Pack a Mighty Fiber Punch
Did you know beans (legumes too) are just about the very best source of fiber on the planet? Fiber is particularly important in supporting natural detox because it sequesters (pulls out) toxic waste that the intestines clear from your blood; this in turn helps make sure the toxins are not later reabsorbed into your bloodstream. Although you will certainly be getting plenty of fiber eating the fruits and vegetables we recommend in [intlink id=”9699″ type=”post”]Step 1 of our Natural Detox[/intlink], adding just ½ cup of beans or legumes to your diet daily will dramatically boost your fiber profile by approximately 8 grams. Note: The National Cancer Institute recommends at least 25 grams of fiber a day—at Clean Cuisine we believe you should eat a lot more fiber than that but 25 grams is a good start!
Beans are Rich in Antioxidants & Phytonutrients
Beans and legumes are truly a fountain of youth food bursting with anti-aging antioxidants and phytonutrients as well as a nutritional storehouse of vitamins and minerals including folate, iron and potassium. The more nutrients, antioxidants and phytonutrients you can flood your body with the better your body’s natural detox system will function.
Bean Eaters Have Slimmer Waistlines
Simply losing weight will reduce your body’s toxic load since the vast majority of toxins in your body are stored in your fat tissue (better there than in your bloodstream!) And since research shows regular bean eaters actually have slimmer waistlines it is no stretch to say beans can help detox your body because they will help you lose weight. There are many explanations for why beans are so slimming including the fiber and resistant starch as well as the high nutrient to low calorie ratio. A Canadian study of 1,475 men and women found that those who consumed beans regularly tended to weigh less and have a smaller waist circumference than those who did not eat them. The regular bean eaters were also 23% less likely to become overweight over time. (1) Bean eaters weighed, on average, 7 pounds less and had slimmer waists than their bean-avoiding counterparts yet they consumed 199 calories more per day if they were adults and an incredible 335 calories more if they were teenagers.
Bean Cuisine!!
Not sure how to prepare beans? Not to worry! We have plenty of “bean cuisine” recipes on Clean Cuisine. We’ve included a few of our favorites below:
P.S. There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying canned beans to save time (that’s what I do!) but do look for a BPA-free brand such as Eden Organic.
Clean Cuisine’s Natural Detox Conclusion
If you have been following our six previous Natural Detox recommendations you have consistently been improving your diet and boosting your health with every change you make. Remember, your body has the ability to detoxify itself if you continuously provide it with enough “good” stuff to do so (and of course limit as many toxins as possible.) Our Clean Cuisine Natural Detox recommendations are safe and gentle enough to incorporate 365 days a year and will help keep your body refreshed and rejuvenated. Even if you can only manage to incorporate one step of our Natural Detox as a consistent part of your lifestyle you will still benefit! This is not an “all or nothing” program.
Want to Go Back to the Beginning of our Natural Detox?
Want to start our Natural Detox again? Or simply want a refresher? Click HERE to start over.
References:
- Papanikolaou Y and Fulgoni VL “Bean consumption is associated with greater nutrient intake, reduced systolic blood pressure, lower body weight, and a smaller waist circumference in adults: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002.” J Am Coll Nutr. 2008 Oct;27(5):569-76].
