Black Beans

Will they make my unborn baby big

Black beans or Njahi, as they are commonly known, is one of the best foods for your health and budget. They are packed with fibre and protein. A meal of black beans satisfies even the most intense hunger and leaves one feeling full and energetic for hours. Both dried and canned black beans are available throughout the year. Dried beans are generally available in prepackaged containers as well as in bulk bins.

What are the benefits of black beans?
You may already be familiar with the beans’ fiber and protein benefits, but this is far from all black beans has to offer. Black beans have a rich flavor that has been compared to mushrooms. They are also a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fibre, as are most other legumes. In addition to lowering cholesterol, black beans’ high fibre content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal, making these beans especially good choice for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycaemia (a state produced by a lower than normal level of sugar in the blood). When combined with whole grains such as brown rice, black beans provide virtually fat- free high quality protein.

Black beans contain other nutritious substances including carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins such as  B vitamins, folic acid and iron. They also contain a rich supply of manganese, a mineral that is part of many different enzymes working throughout the body and whose deficiency can lead to weight  loss, nausea, vomiting, poor growth and abnormal reproduction.

Can black beans make my unborn baby grow big
Many people believe that if you eat Njahi regularly when pregnant you are likely to go through Caesarean section because the baby will be too big to pass through the birth canal. This has indeed made some women to shy away from black beans in fear of getting big babies. However, this claim has not been medically proven. Because of its roughage content, black beans release a carbohydrate component to the blood stream, which is absorbed gradually from the alimentary canal,’ reducing the sudden increase in the level of blood sugar- which is often associated with the enlargement of the foetus.

Nevertheless, babies can become excessively large due to hereditary or genetic factors, disturbances in the level of blood sugar and medical disorders. People who are diabetic are likely to pass the high level of sugar to their babies. This occurs, for instance, in some women who suffer from gestational diabetes-that is, increase in blood sugar only during pregnancy and which tends to go back to normal after delivery.

What are the effects of eating black beans?
Generally, a leguminous diet normally increases the level of gas, giving one an acidic feeling. However, this is a minor effect compared to the nutritional value that the beans offer.

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