Adzuki - Super Healthy Bean
Beans are fantastic for restoring energy, preventing weight gain, and for your looks too!
Whether you toss them in a salad, let them simmer in a stew, or cook them with rice, beans are a really versatile ingredient.
In Japan, we like to boil beans with sugar to make a dish called nimame (literally, “boiled beans”).
No matter the variety, beans are packed with nutrients that are great for your body.
They are a great source of fiber, which is essential for combating constipation, which in turn helps the body eliminate cholesterol and excess fat.
Beans are also packed with beauty-enhancing nutrients like potassium, calcium, iron, vitamins, anthocyanins and isoflavones, making them a great addition to your diet if you want to keep your youthful good looks!
The small but mighty adzuki bean
Adzuki beans are a small, reddish-brown variety of bean. People have been consuming these little beans for as long as 5000 years, and they are very popular in Japan.
Because of their red color, in ancient times adzuki beans were believed to ward off evil, and they have been used in all kinds of ceremonies and religious practices to protect against bad luck.
In Japan, we often boil adzuki beans with sugar to make sweet anko paste, or cook them together with rice to make a dish called sekihan.
They come in many different varieties, including dainagon, chunagon, white adzuki and black adzuki.
And of course, adzuki beans are packed with vital nutrients!
• They are crammed with vitamin B1, which helps to relieve fatigue by improving sugar metabolism.
• They contain saponins, which fight obesity by helping the body metabolize fats.
• They are a rich source of polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant that promotes whiter skin and better circulation.
All in all, adzuki are a super-healthy bean and will make a great addition to your diet!
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