Let’s Talk About Beans
By Nyn Ruckman
Staff Reporter November 9, 2017 Beans. One of the most commonly eaten and produced foods in the world. Pinto, Black, Lima. Green. There are oh so many types of legumes thrown in to all types of food you eat and see in your everyday life. No one ever takes the time to think about them, though. Imagine a single bean. The inside is just mush for the most part, and they don’t really have a specific taste either. They’re just beans.
Beans are quite interesting and a great healthy alternative to some other foods we consume. Beans are full of folate, a fiber booster and is a great supplement to protein for all those vegetarians out there. Eating beans can also eliminate risks of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and several more heart diseases. Contrary to popular belief, beans don’t actually sprout up in packaged can form (crazy…I know). I eat beans all the time and have never thought to consider how they grow. Do they come from a tree? A plant? Do they just shoot out of the ground like a torpedo? Humans have cultivated Beans for over 6,000 years. Beans essentially grow on vines or bushes, depending on the type, but most typically known beans like black or pinto grown in bush crops. Also, beans don’t require fertilizer because they provide it for themselves. Beans don’t just serve as a side dish or burrito ingredient; they can also be made into bean burger patties, salads and dips. Not only are beans limited to being used in food dishes, they can also be used in making jewelry, instruments and furniture. Beans are such a vital component to our culture. Humans have consumed and used them in different activities for so long now, I can’t imagine a world without them. Without beans, authentic Spanish cuisine would go to shambles. All bean bag chairs in this world would be completely flat and have no support. The Chicago famous landmark would be nothing. A world without beans, is by no means a world I would want to live in, this is a call to everyone to start appreciating all aspects of life, especially something as small as a bean. |
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